Maha Sarakham Team Wins Gourmet & Cuisine Young Chef 2026
Maha Sarakham University's team Praperedang won the Gourmet & Cuisine Young Chef 2026 contest, earning the top prize plus two special awards for their Festive Finger Foods dishes. The competition, held on September 19 at Impact Kulilinova, aimed to develop student culinary talents with over 300,000 baht in prizes. Other universities across Thailand also received runner‑up and consolation awards.
The winners of the Gourmet & Cuisine Young Chef 2026 university-level cooking contest have been announced. Team "Praperedang" from Maha Sarakham University took the top prize, along with the Tecnoplus’s Choice Award and the Judges’ Favorite Award, for their Festive Finger Foods presentation. The final round and award ceremony were held on September 19 at Impact Kulilinova.
Team Praperedang – champions
The contest, organized by Gourmet & Cuisine magazine in cooperation with the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation and leading food‑and‑kitchen partners, aims to promote and develop the culinary skills of students and youth toward professional chef careers, offering more than 300,000 baht in cash and prizes, plus honorary trophies and certificates.
First runner‑up
Team "Praperedang" from Maha Sarakham University consists of Miss Jutarat Saraban and Miss Patcharaporn Mata. They presented five dishes: savory items – salmon‑flavored choux, grilled pork with black garlic sauce, and tacos with khochuang bean filling; sweet items – cracked‑cassava financier and mango‑cream cheese puff. By reimagining familiar flavors and ingredients in a bite‑size format, they creatively satisfied the competition theme and secured the championship.
Second runner‑up
Executive editor of Gourmet & Cuisine, Parita Viriyasangsrisat, commented: “Each team interpreted the Finger Foods theme in its own way – some took familiar tastes and gave them a new perspective, while others highlighted local ingredients and modernized them. This made every team distinct, so the judging considered creativity, taste, technique, hygiene, ingredient use, and presentation. The winning team blended all elements perfectly and presented their work outstanding.”
Competition atmosphere
First runner‑up: Team Gonggongqi from Dusit Thani College, with Marcelus Eng and Miss Pakhirn Choi. Second runner‑up: Team Saebsnit from Dusit Thani College, with Nattawat Teenloetphich and Phumitham Sombun.
Two consolation awards went to: Team Exotic from Thai Chamber of Commerce University (Weerapong Jiranukulsawat and Rappeephat Ninbor) and Team Kuethap from Dusit Thani College (Kantavee Kunsunthor and Ratchanon Panno), the latter also receiving the Judges’ Favorite Award.
Menu of the champion team Praperedang
Certificates of participation were awarded to five teams: 1) Team Lukmaepaipenai from Rajabhat Maha Sarakham University (Nonthawat Pilaporn and Pornlaphat Panjarean); 2) Team Tip of Spoon from Burapha University (Rattanaporn Saetia and Kanokwan Kaewget); 3) Team Playground from Khon Kaen University (Kritphon Faibun and Prathayrat Thanasil); 4) Team Red Rock from Rangsit University (Natthanicha Jaikhantha and Siwakorn Hounla); 5) Team Rodfongfan from Dusit Thani College Pattaya (Opal Yaempinit and Onnetsuet Glabsathien).
