Tuesday 8 September, 2026
Top Curry Chefs Battle it Out at National Cook-Off Competition Hosted by Cambridge Regional College
Cambridge, 7 September 2026 – On Monday, Cambridge Regional College hosted the Asian Restaurant & Takeaway Awards (ARTA) 2026 National Chef of the Year Cook-Off Competition. Fifteen top chefs from different regions across the UK showcased their technical skills, creativity, and ability to perform under pressure in a live professional kitchen.
The competition, held in partnership with Cambridge Regional College and with ChefOnline as Strategic Partner, is a key part of the judging process for the seventh annual ARTA.
Over 1,200 businesses were nominated nationwide for this year’s awards, with factors such as food quality, service quality, value for money, and food hygiene standards considered. Customer feedback from Google and TripAdvisor reviews was also taken into account during the judging process.
The competition saw chefs from 15 different regions across the UK representing their businesses. These regions included the West Midlands, South West, North East, North London, Wales, South Central, Kent, North West, Scotland, Surrey, Essex, Northern Ireland, Hertfordshire, East Anglia, and East Midlands.
Competitors were presented with a wide selection of fresh ingredients, including king prawns, rack of lamb, chicken, and sea bream, as well as an array of seasonal vegetables, pulses, herbs, and spices. This allowed the chefs to showcase their individual approach and test their knowledge, technical ability, creativity, and adaptability.
The judging panel, which consisted of professionals from the culinary industry, culinary education, and restaurant industry, assessed the chefs’ performances based on hygiene, technique, use of ingredients, creativity, presentation, flavor, appearance, texture, and aroma.
Executive Chef and ARTA Judge Chad Rahman, who has extensive experience in culinary competitions, praised the competition for its diverse range of ingredients, allowing chefs to truly showcase their skills and creativity under pressure. He also commended ARTA for its commitment to raising professional standards and championing chefs in the UK Asian hospitality sector.
Graham Taylor, Assistant Head of Department & Commercial Lead for the College and ARTA Judge, was impressed with the standard demonstrated by the chefs and noted a noticeable improvement in food safety, core culinary skills, and overall fluidity in the kitchen.
The National Cook-Off also saw students from Cambridge Regional College, who prepared and served lobster for the participating chefs and guests. This highlighted the importance of practical training and the need for stronger links between education and industry in developing the chefs of the future.
Founder and Chairman of ARTA, Dr. Mohammed Munim, emphasized the importance of recognizing and celebrating the talented individuals behind the UK Asian hospitality industry. He also expressed his gratitude to Cambridge Regional College and all those involved in making the national competition possible.
Now in its seventh year, the Asian Restaurant & Takeaway Awards (ARTA) has become a major national celebration of the UK’s Asian curry restaurant and takeaway industry. Widely known as the “Oscars of the Curry Industry”, ARTA celebrates exceptional food, culinary craftsmanship, innovation, and outstanding customer service.
The ARTA 2026 National Chef of the Year will be announced at the Grand Finale and Gala Evening on Monday, 12 October 2026, at the London Hilton on Park Lane, along with other national and regional award winners.
ARTA is proudly sponsored and supported by DNA Payments, Super Pollo, Cobra Beer, Work Permit Cloud, NRB Bank, Square Mile Insurance, Finology Finance Broker, Paytap, and Madhu’s.
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Dining and Cooking