With the theme “Future Well-being” (which involved using local ingredients to create an inventive dish), the Innovative Design Cooking Club of Mahidol University International College (MUIC) hosted an innovative cuisine competition entitled “Local Bliss, Wellness Bites” at Charinyarasami Hall, 3^rd Floor, Aditayathorn Building on June 5, 2024.

Twenty MUIC students who participated in the competition had the opportunity to hone their creative and culinary skills. With the organizer partnering with KCG Corp., one of the largest food import and retail companies in Thailand, the participants had a chance to be exposed to the different fares from the country’s different regions.

Two prominent chefs were invited as guest judges: Chef Wilman Leon, well-known for his roles as Head Judge of Top Chef Thailand, Founder Chairman of Thai Culinary, and pundit on Hell’s Kitchen Thailand; and Chef Chachaya Raktakanishta, well-known for her roles as Chief Judge on Top Chef Thailand and Guest Judge on Iron Chef Thailand.

The club also invited several MUIC executives to join the board of judges, namely, Ms. Wimonsiri Hemtanon, Associate Dean for Student Affairs; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chanchai Phonthanukitithaworn, Associate Dean for Corporate Communication and Information Technology;  and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chanida Hansawasdi, Associate Dean for Research and Academic Services.

Due to the diverse backgrounds of the MUIC judges—which included experts in marketing, science, and intercultural studies—as well as the culinary science expertise of the invited chefs, the competition had a diversity in terms of ideas and viewpoints that were submitted, benefitting the MUIC student participants.

Through this activity, students had the chance to hear from professionals in a variety of fields and also increased their awareness of issues such as the adaptation of Thai local ingredients into daily diets and the future well-being of people in the current world.

List of Winners
Winner  (Cash Prize worth 5,000 THB)
Team Wolffy
– Chawin Butdisuwan (ICFS)
– Asirapan Yongprasert (ICFS)
– Putt Choonhanirunrit (ICFS)

1^st Runner-up  (Cash Prize worth 3,5000 THB)
Team Bingcon
– Yi Ran Wang (ICFS)
– Xiao Yuan Zhang (ICFS)
– Yuan Yun Chai (ICFS)

2^nd Runner-up   (Cash Prize worth 2,000 THB)
Team หม่อมธายสั่งลุย
– Walaipan Thamjaroensak (ICFS)
– Thanakorn Pariyakul  (ICFS)
– Apinatt Apichainun (ICFS)