M'sian student bags gold at Young Chefs International Competition

Free Malaysia Today

20-05-2025

Muhamad Sufi Irfan from UiTM Penang was announced the gold medal winner in the Confectionery Arts category at the Young Chefs International Competition 2025. (Gastronomy Association of Malaysia Facebook pic)
KUALA LUMPUR : Muhamad Sufi Irfan Mohamad Rusdin was stunned when his name was announced as a gold medal winner at the Young Chefs International Competition 2025 in Kazan (Tatarstan), Russia, on Saturday.
The culinary student from UiTM Penang defeated participants from 12 countries in the Confectionery Arts category, including chefs from Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, Tunisia, Turkey, Russia, Indonesia, Uzbekistan, Senegal, Kazakhstan and Iran.
'I was in shock when I heard my name being announced. I felt my heart racing and my hands slightly trembling. I entered the competition not only to challenge myself but to test my abilities on an international level.
'It was a new experience for me, so when I won, I felt very grateful and touched. God is great,' he said when met by Bernama here.
Sufi, who hails from Pasir Mas, Kelantan, successfully captured the judges' hearts with his Malaysian-Western fusion offerings.
On his menu were an appetiser of crispy fried fish with tomato and basil salad with lemon dressing; marble beef tenderloin with curry-infused juice, glazed vegetables with local wild mushroom and rosti potato for mains; and dessert comprising bingka labu (pumpkin kuih), chocolate mousse with mandarin orange sauce, and fresh fruit with sugar garnish.
Sufi said he'd felt nervous during the preparation of the dishes due to limited time, and needed to be fully focused to ensure everything was perfect.
'Overall, Alhamdulillah, everything went according to plan. In the competition kitchen, I did what I'd practised,' he said.
One of the requirements was for participants to combine raw materials obtained in Kazan, such as cod fish, meat, cooking oil, flour, vegetables, and local fruits.
Sufi's menu consisted of Malaysian-Western fusion fare with a traditional Malay touch, as evidenced by dishes such as bingka labu. (Gastronomy Association of Malaysia Facebook pics)
He said his menu choices were made and inspired by two of his lecturers who acted as team managers at UiTM Penang. 'This menu also had a touch of traditional Malay that I wanted to highlight, so that the judges could feel the authenticity and creativity in my dishes.'
Sufi, who has been interested in cooking since he was a child, recalled the 'drama' in the kitchen as he worked against the clock.
'The strongest pressure involved managing time and emotions. Sometimes when there were distractions or I felt like there was not enough time, I started to panic, but I tried to stay calm and focus on one thing at a time,' he said.
Sufi began training for the competition two weeks prior to the event, focusing on time management, cooking, and food testing to ensure all flavours were balanced and the presentation was appealing.
He previously participated in competitions such as the 2023 Melaka Culinary Challenge and 2024 Battle of the Chefs at the Spice Arena in Penang, for which he won bronze medals.
He said this new victory will provide motivation for him to continue succeeding in the culinary field.
'God willing, if there is the opportunity, I want to participate in more competitions. It's a way to hone my skills and learn from others,' said Sufi, who plans to continue his studies up to the PhD level in gastronomy to achieve his ambition of becoming a chef-lecturer at UiTM one day.
The culinary competition was held in conjunction with the World Islamic KazanForum 2025 from May 14-16, and was aimed at showcasing culinary talent and strengthen international cooperation among Islamic countries.