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Free Malaysia Today
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Free Malaysia Today
M'sian student bags gold at Young Chefs International Competition
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.
The Star
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Cooking up a golden meal for Malaysia
KAZAN (Tatarstan): Muhamad Sufi Irfan Mohamad Rusdin could not believe it when he won the gold medal in the Confectionery Arts category at the prestigious Young Chefs International Competition 2025 here. The UiTM Penang culinary student defeated participants from 12 countries, including Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, Tunisia, Turkiye, Russia, Indonesia, Uzbekistan, Senegal, Kazakhstan and Iran. 'I was in shock when I heard my name announced as the winner. I felt my heart racing and my hands trembling. I entered the competition to challenge myself and test my abilities on an international level. It was a new experience for me,' the 23-year-old told Bernama. The menu chosen by Muhamad Sufi, who is from Pasir Mas, Kelantan, which captured the judges' hearts was Malaysian fusion with a touch of Western – a seafood-based salad, crispy fried fish with tomato and basil salad with lemon dressing. The main menu featured marble beef tenderloin served with curry-infused juice, glazed vegetables with local wild mushroom and rosti potato, and dessert comprising bingka labu, mandarin orange sauce with chocolate mousse, fresh fruit and sugar garnish. Muhamad Sufi said he felt a bit nervous while preparing the ingredients due to a limited time. 'But overall, everything went according to plan. What I practised, that's what I did in the competition kitchen,' he said, adding that one of the requirements was for participants to combine raw ingredients obtained in Kazan, like cod fish, meat, cooking oil, flour, vegetables and local fruits. Muhamad Sufi said the 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,' added the budding chef. Describing the 'drama' that occurred during the competition, Muhamad Sufi said he felt panicky and anxious when he saw the clock ticking fast. 'The strongest pressure during the competition was to manage time and emotions. 'Sometimes, when there were distractions, I started to panic. But I tried to stay calm and focused on one thing at a time,' he said, adding that he started his preparations about two weeks before the competition began. The training included time management, cooking and food testing to ensure all flavours were balanced and the presentation was appealing, he added. Muhamad Sufi said the experience of participating in several previous food competitions gave him the motivation and confidence to participate in his first international event in Kazan. 'I have participated in several competitions such as the 2023 Melaka Culinary Challenge and 2024 Battle of The Chefs at Spice Arena in Penang, and I won a bronze medal in both,' he added.
Malay Mail
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
Malaysia's Muhamad Sufi clinches gold at Young Chefs International Competition in Kazan, highlighting Malay fusion cuisine
KAZAN (TATARSTAN), May 18 — Muhamad Sufi Irfan Mohamad Rusdin from UiTM Penang seemed to be in disbelief when his name was announced as the gold medal winner in the Confectionery Arts category at the prestigious Young Chefs International Competition 2025 here. The culinary student defeated participants from 12 countries, including Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, Tunisia, Turkey, Russia, Indonesia, Uzbekistan, Senegal, Kazakhstan and Iran. 'I was indeed in shock when I heard my name being announced a winner. 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. Allah maha besar (God is great),' he said when met by Bernama here. The menu chosen by Muhamad Sufi's, who hails from Pasir Mas, Kelantan, which successfully captured the judges' hearts, was Malaysian fusion, with a touch of Western, a seafood-based salad, Appetiser; Crispy Fried Fish with Tomato and Basil Salad with Lemon Dressing Meanwhile, the main menu featured Marble Beef Tenderloin served with curry-infused juice, glazed vegetables with local wild mushroom and rosti potato, and dessert comprising Bingka Labu, Mandarin Orange Sauce with chocolate mousse, fresh fruit and sugar garnish. According to Muhamad Sufi, he felt a bit nervous when facing some challenges during the preparation of the materials due to the limited time, but he needed to be fully focused to ensure everything was perfect. Muhamad Sufi Irfan Mohamad Rusdin from UiTM Penang was announced as the gold medal winner in the Confectionery Arts category at the prestigious Young Chefs International Competition 2025 in Kazan. — Picture via Facebook/Gastronomy Association of Malaysia 'But overall, Alhamdulillah, everything went according to plan. What I practiced, that's what I did in the competition kitchen,' he said, adding that one of the competition requirements was for participants to combine raw materials obtained in Kazan, such as cod fish, meat, cooking oil, flour, vegetables and local fruits. He said the 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,' adding that he has been interested in cooking since he was a child. Describing the 'drama' that occurred during the competition, Muhamad Sufi said he felt panicky and anxious when he saw time seemingly passing too quickly. 'The strongest pressure during the competition is to manage time and emotions. Sometimes when there are distractions or I feel like there's not enough time, I start to panic, but I try to stay calm and focus on one thing at a time,' he said, adding that he starts his preparations about two weeks before the competition begins. The training includes time management, cooking, and food testing to ensure all flavours are balanced and the presentation is appealing, he explained. Muhamad Sufi said that perhaps the experience of participating in several previous food competitions gave him the motivation and confidence to participate in his first international event in Kazan. 'I have participated in several competitions such as the 2023 Melaka Culinary Challenge and 2024 Battle of The Chefs at Spice Arena in Penang, and I won a bronze medal in both the Melaka Culinary Challenge and the Battle of the Chefs. He said this (new) victory will undoubtedly inject motivation for him to continue succeeding in the culinary field. 'Insya-Allah, if there is sustenance and opportunity, I would want to participate in more competitions. 'It's a way to hone my skills and learn from others,' said Muhamad 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. Muhamad Sufi told Bernama that he was grateful to all his lecturers who had provided guidance, his family who always supported him, and to friends who have been his backbone all this time. 'Thanks to my good friend Ramadhan Suhaimi who always accompanied me while I was practicing in the training kitchen until early morning,' he said. Bernama met with Muhamad Sufi and Fadzly last week at the Russian Embassy in Malaysia while documenting the official visit of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to Russia from May 13 to 16. Having a brief chat at that time, the journalist challenged Muhamad Sufi to bring home the gold medal and promised to write about his story if he won. Yesterday, immediately after the competition ended, Muhamad Sufi informed Bernama that he had successfully clinched the gold medal. Muhamad Sufi was accompanied by Asst Prof Chef Fadzly Che Omar, who is also vice-president of the Malaysian Gastronomy Association. The Gastronomy Association has a network of chef associations at the international level. 'I found out about this competition through my lecturer and the faculty, and immediately felt excited to try my luck. Alhamdulillah, everything went smoothly,' he said. Meanwhile, Fadzly said this culinary competition was held in conjunction with the World Islamic KazanForum 2025, in Kazan, Tatarstan, Russia from May 14 to 16. This competition serves as an important platform to showcase culinary talent and strengthen international cooperation among Islamic countries. Fadzly said that Muhamad Sufi's success in winning the gold medal not only highlighted the extraordinary talent nurtured by the country's culinary institutions but also proved the growing influence of Malaysian gastronomy on the world stage. Fadzly, who also represented Malaysia as an International Professional Chef Jury in this competition, played an important role in upholding professional standards and promoting Malaysia's culinary excellence internationally. — Bernama
New Straits Times
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
Malaysian student wins gold at Young Chefs International Competition in Russia
KAZAN: Muhamad Sufi Irfan Mohamad Rusdin from Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Penang won the gold medal in the Confectionery Arts category at the prestigious Young Chefs International Competition 2025 here. The culinary student defeated participants from 12 countries, including Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, Tunisia, Turkey, Russia, Indonesia, Uzbekistan, Senegal, Kazakhstan and Iran. "I was shocked when I heard my name being announced as a winner. 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. Allah maha besar (God is great)," he said. The menu chosen by Sufi, who hails from Pasir Mas, Kelantan, was a Malaysian fusion with a Western twist. For the appetiser, he served a seafood-based salad — Crispy Fried Fish with Tomato and Basil Salad, topped with a lemon dressing. The main course featured Marble Beef Tenderloin accompanied by curry-infused sauce, glazed vegetables with local wild mushrooms and rosti potatoes. For dessert, he presented Bingka Labu, mandarin orange sauce with chocolate mousse, fresh fruit, and a sugar garnish. According to Sufi, he felt a bit nervous when facing some challenges during the preparation of the materials due to the limited time, but he needed to be fully focused to ensure everything was perfect. "But overall, Alhamdulillah, everything went according to plan. What I practised, that's what I did in the competition kitchen," he said, adding that one of the competition requirements was for participants to combine raw materials obtained in Kazan, such as cod fish, meat, cooking oil, flour, vegetables and local fruits. He said the 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," adding that he has been interested in cooking since he was a child. "The strongest pressure during the competition is to manage time and emotions. Sometimes when there are distractions or I feel like there's not enough time, I start to panic, but I try to stay calm and focus on one thing at a time," he said, adding that he starts his preparations about two weeks before the competition begins. The training includes time management, cooking, and food testing to ensure all flavours are balanced and the presentation is appealing, he explained. Sufi said that the experience of participating in several previous food competitions gave him the motivation and confidence to participate in his first international event in Kazan. "I have participated in several competitions, such as the 2023 Melaka Culinary Challenge and 2024 Battle of the Chefs at Spice Arena in Penang, and I won a bronze medal in both the Melaka Culinary Challenge and the Battle of the Chefs. He said this (new) victory will undoubtedly inject motivation for him to continue succeeding in the culinary field. "Insya-Allah, if there is sustenance and opportunity, I would 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. He said he was grateful to all his lecturers who had provided guidance, his family who always supported him, and to friends who have been his backbone all this time. "Thanks to my good friend Ramadhan Suhaimi, who always accompanied me while I was practising in the training kitchen until early morning," he said. He was accompanied by Asst Prof Chef Fadzly Che Omar, who is also vice-president of the Malaysian Gastronomy Association. The Gastronomy Association has a network of chef associations at the international level. Bernama met with Sufi and Fadzly last week at the Russian Embassy in Malaysia while documenting the official visit of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to Russia from May 13 to 16. The journalist challenged Sufi to bring home the gold medal and promised to write about his story if he won. Yesterday, immediately after the competition ended, Sufi informed Bernama that he had successfully clinched the gold medal. Meanwhile, Fadzly said this culinary competition was held in conjunction with the World Islamic Kazan Forum 2025, in Kazan, Tatarstan, Russia, from May 14 to 16.
Barnama
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Barnama
Malaysia's Muhamad Sufi Bags Gold At Young Chefs International Competition In Kazan
KAZAN (TATARSTAN) May 18 (Bernama) -- Muhamad Sufi Irfan Mohamad Rusdin from UiTM Penang seemed to be in disbelief when his name was announced as the gold medal winner in the Confectionery Arts category at the prestigious Young Chefs International Competition 2025 here. The menu chosen by Muhamad Sufi's, who hails from Pasir Mas, Kelantan, which successfully captured the judges' hearts, was Malaysian fusion, with a touch of Western, a seafood-based salad, Appetiser; Crispy Fried Fish with Tomato and Basil Salad with Lemon Dressing "It was a new experience for me, so when I won, I felt very grateful and touched. Allah maha besar (God is great)," he said when met by Bernama here. 'I was indeed in shock when I heard my name being announced a winner. 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. "But overall, Alhamdulillah, everything went according to plan. What I practiced, that's what I did in the competition kitchen," he said, adding that one of the competition requirements was for participants to combine raw materials obtained in Kazan, such as cod fish, meat, cooking oil, flour, vegetables and local fruits. According to Muhamad Sufi, he felt a bit nervous when facing some challenges during the preparation of the materials due to the limited time, but he needed to be fully focused to ensure everything was perfect. Meanwhile, the main menu featured Marble Beef Tenderloin served with curry-infused juice, glazed vegetables with local wild mushroom and rosti potato, and dessert comprising Bingka Labu, Mandarin Orange Sauce with chocolate mousse, fresh fruit and sugar garnish. He said the 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," adding that he has been interested in cooking since he was a child. Describing the 'drama' that occurred during the competition, Muhamad Sufi said he felt panicky and anxious when he saw time seemingly passing too quickly. "The strongest pressure during the competition is to manage time and emotions. Sometimes when there are distractions or I feel like there's not enough time, I start to panic, but I try to stay calm and focus on one thing at a time," he said, adding that he starts his preparations about two weeks before the competition begins. The training includes time management, cooking, and food testing to ensure all flavours are balanced and the presentation is appealing, he explained. Muhamad Sufi said that perhaps the experience of participating in several previous food competitions gave him the motivation and confidence to participate in his first international event in Kazan. 'I have participated in several competitions such as the 2023 Melaka Culinary Challenge and 2024 Battle of The Chefs at Spice Arena in Penang, and I won a bronze medal in both the Melaka Culinary Challenge and the Battle of the Chefs. He said this (new) victory will undoubtedly inject motivation for him to continue succeeding in the culinary field. "Insya-Allah, if there is sustenance and opportunity, I would want to participate in more competitions. "It's a way to hone my skills and learn from others," said Muhamad 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. Muhamad Sufi told Bernama that he was grateful to all his lecturers who had provided guidance, his family who always supported him, and to friends who have been his backbone all this time. "Thanks to my good friend Ramadhan Suhaimi who always accompanied me while I was practicing in the training kitchen until early morning," he said. Bernama met with Muhamad Sufi and Fadzly last week at the Russian Embassy in Malaysia while documenting the official visit of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to Russia from May 13 to 16. Having a brief chat at that time, the journalist challenged Muhamad Sufi to bring home the gold medal and promised to write about his story if he won. Yesterday, immediately after the competition ended, Muhamad Sufi informed Bernama that he had successfully clinched the gold medal. Muhamad Sufi was accompanied by Asst Prof Chef Fadzly Che Omar, who is also vice-president of the Malaysian Gastronomy Association. The Gastronomy Association has a network of chef associations at the international level. "I found out about this competition through my lecturer and the faculty, and immediately felt excited to try my luck. Alhamdulillah, everything went smoothly," he said. Meanwhile, Fadzly said this culinary competition was held in conjunction with the World Islamic KazanForum 2025, in Kazan, Tatarstan, Russia from May 14 to 16. This competition serves as an important platform to showcase culinary talent and strengthen international cooperation among Islamic countries. Fadzly said that Muhamad Sufi's success in winning the gold medal not only highlighted the extraordinary talent nurtured by the country's culinary institutions but also proved the growing influence of Malaysian gastronomy on the world stage. Fadzly, who also represented Malaysia as an International Professional Chef Jury in this competition, played an important role in upholding professional standards and promoting Malaysia's culinary excellence internationally. -- BERNAMA BERNAMA provides up-to-date authentic and comprehensive news and information which are disseminated via BERNAMA Wires; BERNAMA TV on Astro 502, unifi TV 631 and MYTV 121 channels and BERNAMA Radio on FM93.9 (Klang Valley), FM107.5 (Johor Bahru), FM107.9 (Kota Kinabalu) and FM100.9 (Kuching) frequencies. Follow us on social media : Facebook : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatv, @bernamaradio Twitter : @ @BernamaTV, @bernamaradio Instagram : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatvofficial, @bernamaradioofficial TikTok : @bernamaofficial
