Sponsored by Daesang Corp.
Jongga Kimchi Blast, a global kimchi-making contest, has been successfully held in the United Kingdom and France, said Daesang Corp., which sponsored the event, on Oct. 21.
The cooking contest was co-organized by Le Cordon Bleu, a renowned cooking school in Paris, and the Culinary Institute of America, a prestigious culinary school in New York, together with Association Mes Amis, an organization set up to promote Korean culinary culture in France, and Korean ad agency SF Ad. Jongga is a food brand owned by Daesang Corp.
In the contest held in the United Kingdom on Oct. 5 (local time), 10 out of 150 participants advanced to the finals and showed their skills. The final winner was Fernando Ortiz Rosas, who introduced "grilled pork with white kimchi and kimchi soup jelly."
The French competition was held on Oct. 14 (local time). Eleven out of some 400 participants advanced to the finals. Cécile Ma won the first prize by presenting a kimchi cake with whipped cream made of sesame leaves and emmental cheese and cognac.
"I was inspired as a chef and a professor by watching participants creating not only the main dishes but also various other dishes using kimchi, such as cocktails and tarts," said Fabrice Daniel, vice principal of Le Cordon Blue, who participated as a judge in the French cooking competition.