On November 5, the biggest Baltic food and hospitality exhibition “Taste Vilnius HoReCa 2022” included a competition for best Lithuanian chef of 2022. The competition, first held in 2003 (Best Chefs) and 2005 (Best Young Chefs) was held again this year after a four-year hiatus, sponsored by the Lithuanian Chief Chefs and Confectioners Association (LVVKA). The winner of the gold medal was Ignas Damanskis, who also won the “Reaton Innovation Award 2022”. The best young chef of 2022 is Paulius Lenkšas, who received the Reaton Award.
Taste, colour, form, aroma, innovation and technique are just some of the criteria used to decide who is the best chef, said the president of the Association, WorldChefs certified judge Jaroslav Orševski. There were six final contenders for the prize: Ignas Damanskas (“Original Coffee”), Erikas Janerikas (“EGO SPA”), Gediminas Kniūkšta (“Lavender Inn”), Edgaras Rutkauskas, Andrius Vasilenka (“Siesta” Restaurant”) and Ernestas Žitkauskas (“Amandus” Restaurant).
The competing chefs had to present a hot vegan appetizers, a hot entrée of rabbit, demonstrating various meat preparation techniques, and dessert, consisting of plums, marzipan and a chocolate garnish.
The judges were certified members of WorldChefs – The World’s Association of Chefs Societies from Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, and Sweden. The competition is a stepping stone for chefs hoping to enter international culinary championships in Luxembourg, Germany and other countries.
Included in the event was a competition for Best Team in the “Zero Waste challenge 2022”. Participants were from professional cooking schools and had to prepare a hot entrée using Arctic char, parsnips and carrots, and make one-bite snacks from the scraps.
