Hyderabad, Feb 09: Regency College of Culinary Arts & Hotel Management, located amid the scenic hills of Hilltop Colony, Hyderabad, has earned prestigious recognitions within a short span of six months, including “The Best Education Excellence Award – 2025” by the Indian School of Awards, “Best Private Hotel Management Award” by the Tourism Department, Government of Telangana, and “Best Culinary School of the Year in South India” by the Food Connoisseurs India Awards was the Host Partner for Better Kitchen’s Everest Culinary Challenge – Season 7, “The Hunt for India’s Culinary Stars”.
The Everest Better Kitchen Culinary Challenge – Season 7 (Telangana Semi-Final Round) was conducted, today. set new standards in competitive culinary education by integrating creativity, technical excellence, technical expertise, presentation, innovation, teamwork, professional discipline and future-ready industry practices.
The event brought together Pan-India participants and renowned professionals, allowing the college to showcase its top-notch facilities, strengthen industry networks, prepare students for real-world competition, and enhance its national reputation. Hosting this competition elevated the college’s leadership and provided students with exposure to top-tier industry practices.
Extending beyond its role as an academic institution, the college brought together a Pan-India participation of 19 hotel management colleges, creating a unified national platform for emerging hospitality talent.
A Power-Packed Platform for India’s Best Emerging Talent
Students demonstrated exceptional passion and precision, presenting dishes and performances that reflected both India’s rich culinary heritage and modern global standards. The jury faced a challenging task, as each participant delivered top-quality output, reinforcing the event’s status as one of the best talent-driven culinary platforms in the country.
Esteemed Jury Panel Elevates Competition Standards
The Kitchen and Bakery competitions were judged by Chef Thimma Reddy, Corporate Chef at Conçu; Chef Aty Pandari, Executive Chef at The Park; Chef Samir Ali, Fitness and Health Chef; and Chef Tabu Ali, Celebrity Chef on a two-course menu featuring: A Regional or Lost Recipe; Regional Sweet (Using local ingredient) & A Plated Dessert – Themed – Festivals of India. A Themed Cake with the theme “My Champion Soul (My Hero)”.
The Food & Beverage Service competition was evaluated by Mr. Prakash Singh, Banquet Manager, Novotel & HICC, Hitec City, recognized for his excellence in service standards.
The ENZO Housekeeping Olympiad was judged by Mr. C. Srinivas, Executive Housekeeper, Novotel & HICC on Bed Making for Standard Room, Towel Art, Pen-and-Paper Test & DIY – Room Fragrance Challenge.
The Flower Arrangement Freestyle competition was assessed by Ms. Ho Kiku Vineetha from the Ohara School of Ikebana, bringing refined artistic expertise to the event.
Semi Final Winners – Everest Better Kitchen Culinary Challenge Season 7
Position Student Name(s) Semester/course Competition Name
1st Place Rehaa Raj 6th / BHMCT Food & Beverage Service
3rd Place Fouad Md & N. Kowshik 6th / BCTCA Hot Kitchen
2nd Place Divya & Dileep 6th / BCTCA Bakery
2nd Place Nandhini Rao 2nd. BHMCT ENZO Housekeeping Olympiad
Beyond Competition: Building Careers, Not Just Winners
Students received a memento and a certificate worth of Wisdom Career Education (WCE) Scholarship worth USD 500, enabling access to:
- The USA J-1 Exchange Visitor Program (post-graduation), or
- Postgraduate study opportunities in Europe
These awards recognize not only individual excellence but also the Regency college shaping India’s next generation of hospitality leaders.
Grand Salute to Excellence and Collaboration
The Principal remarked that such competitions mirror real industry settings, where rigorous practice, discipline, and the ability to perform under pressure determine success. He emphasized that competing with peers from across institutions sharpens professional competence and significantly enhances students’ placement readiness by aligning skills with industry expectations.
Special appreciation was extended to Regency College for hosting the Culinary Challenge and providing strong institutional support. The jury members, faculty mentors, participants, and partners were felicitated by Ms. Ekta Bhargava, Publisher of Better Kitchen and Co-Founder & Director of Bandwagon Media, for their contribution in making the event a memorable celebration of talent and hospitality.