{"id":561,"date":"2026-04-27T13:11:49","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T13:11:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kstories.kr\/en\/fod260427001-en\/"},"modified":"2026-04-27T16:15:24","modified_gmt":"2026-04-27T16:15:24","slug":"fod260427001-en","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kstories.co.kr\/en\/fod260427001-en\/","title":{"rendered":"Marriott K-Gourmet Race Confirms finals Finalists: rising Chef talent to Lead K-gourmet"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Marriott K-Gourmet Race Confirms finals Finalists: rising Chef talent to Lead K-gourmet<\/div>\n

The first preliminary round of the \u2018Marriott K-Gourmet Race,\u2019 the first gourmet chef competition event hosted by Marriott International in the domestic hotel industry, has successfully concluded, and the three teams that will advance to the final finals have been confirmed. The finals, which will be held in a gala dinner format in June, is expected to be an important platform that goes beyond a simple competition to present new possibilities for K-gourmet and discover rising chefs.<\/p>\n

A Reinterpretation of K-gourmet: The Intense qualifier Scene<\/h2>\n

Marriott International announced on April 22nd that it successfully concluded the first preliminary round of the \u2018Marriott K-Gourmet Race,\u2019 the domestic hotel industry\u2019s first gourmet chef competition. This event saw 22 teams from 17 Marriott hotels across the country compete fiercely under the theme of \u2018reinterpreting a respected chef\u2019s dish in my own way,\u2019 with each team consisting of two chefs and one marketing representative. The participating chefs presented dishes completed in their own unique styles, drawing inspiration from respected chefs’ signature menus and culinary techniques, thus opening new horizons for gourmet.<\/p>\n

The judging for this preliminary round was conducted by top industry experts, ensuring a high-quality evaluation. The judges included Chairperson Choi Jeong-yoon, who is the Korea\/Taiwan Chair for the World’s 50 Best Academy Restaurants, a global gourmet evaluation guide, and a gastronomy researcher; Chef Lim Ki-hak of Seoul Cheongdam\u2019s \u2018L\u2019Espoir,\u2019 representing Korean French cuisine; and Chef Kim Jin-hyuk, owner-chef of the Michelin two-star \u2018Alla Prima.\u2019 The judging panel meticulously evaluated the dishes based on completeness, creativity, and storytelling under the theme of \u2018Respect and Expression,\u2019 carefully selecting teams with the potential to lead the future of K-gourmet.<\/p>\n

Three Teams Advancing to the finals Shining with Original Ideas<\/h2>\n

Overcoming fierce competition, the three teams that advanced to the final finals received high praise from the judges by reinterpreting existing dishes in their own unique ways. First, the \u2018Bully Nova\u2019 team from Aloft Seoul Myeongdong garnered rave reviews from the judges by reconfiguring traditional gastronomy gastronomy with a modern sensibility, achieving a profound flavor profile. This was lauded as showcasing a harmony of gourmet that bridges the past and the present.<\/p>\n

Next, the \u2018Busan Dining\u2019 team from Fairfield by Marriott Busan Songdo Beach demonstrated the potential of local gourmet by presenting original menus that combined locally sourced ingredients with a global sensibility. Finally, the \u2018Fly to the Sky\u2019 team from Courtyard by Marriott Seoul Myeongdong unveiled a creative world of gourmet by adding new culinary culinary techniques to familiar ingredients, completing unexpected and fresh combinations. These three teams proved the diversity and potential of K-gourmet by embedding their unique stories and philosophies beyond mere dishes.<\/p>\n

A gourmet Platform Created with guests: The ‘Gala Dinner’ finals<\/h2>\n

The final finals of the \u2018Marriott K-Gourmet Race\u2019 is scheduled to unfold magnificently as a gala dinner on June 19th at JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul. This finals holds special significance as it will operate not merely as a cooking competition, but as a \u2018participatory gourmet event\u2019 where customers directly engage in the gourmet experience and evaluation. Guests attending will have the opportunity to directly experience the chefs’ artistic dishes and participate in the evaluation alongside the expert judging panel, presenting a new form of gourmet experience where customers expand from consumers of gourmet to evaluators.<\/p>\n

Tickets for this gala dinner will be sold exclusively through Catchtable starting May 19th, operating with a capacity of approximately 100 seats, offering a special opportunity for gourmet enthusiasts. To ensure the successful hosting of the event, various partners, including the U.S. Meat Export Federation, Catchtable, Perrier-Jou\u00ebt, Valrhona, and Metizen, participated, enhancing its overall quality. This highlights industry-wide cooperation and efforts for the advancement of K-gourmet.<\/p>\n

Vision for K-gourmet Global Expansion and Fostering rising Chefs<\/h2>\n

Bae Byung-joo, Managing Director of Operations for Marriott International Korea, Vietnam, and Philippines, emphasized, \u201cThe Marriott K-Gourmet Race is an important project that aims to discover the potential of young chefs, foster rising gourmet talent, shed light on new possibilities for K-gourmet, and suggest the future direction for hotel dining.\u201d Thus, this competition goes beyond merely determining superiority; its purpose is to lay the foundation for the sustainable growth and innovation of K-gourmet.<\/p>\n

Through this event, Marriott International introduces a new operating model that transcends the limitations of individual hotel-centric dining promotions or one-off events. It brings together chefs from various hotels to compete on a single stage with K-gourmet as the theme, linking the results to actual hotel dining promotions. Through this, the company plans to strengthen its position in the luxury dining market, foster rising chefs, and continuously explore the global expansion potential of K-gourmet content, thereby leading domestic and international gourmet trends.<\/p>\n

The \u2018Marriott K-Gourmet Race\u2019 will establish itself as an important platform that goes beyond a mere cooking competition, creating a new wave in domestic gourmet culture and providing growth opportunities to rising chefs. Through this event, Marriott International plans to showcase the potential of K-gourmet to the world and continuously lead evolving gourmet trends.<\/p>\n

English-Korean Version<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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