On May 10th, the International Students Union of the International College, in collaboration with the Dietetic Service Center, hosted the 3rd "Great Cook-Off! " event. Held on the third-floor of the East Cafeteria, the event brought together Chinese and international students. Participants teamed up to cook, exchange culinary secrets, and three professional chefs provided on-site guidance.

The core of the event was simple yet profound: cooking hometown flavors to share diverse food cultures and enrich everyone's palate. Through this hands-on experience, students not only tasted delicacies from around the world but also deeply felt the unique charm of multiculturalism.

The event kicked off with the participants divided into six teams, warming up with a fun icebreaker trivia session. Following the icebreaker, the culinary battle began! Each team was given just three minutes to select their basic ingredients and had to draw a random "mystery ingredient" to incorporate into their dish, adding an exciting twist of creativity and surprise to the competition.

A Global Feast: What Was on the Menu

Team 1

Team 1: Despite the tight timeframe, this team showed incredible synergy to create three classic Southeast Asian dishes: Thai Tom Yum Soup, Pad Kra Pao Gai (Thai Basil Chicken), and Indonesian Shrimp Fried Rice. The spicy and sour Tom Yum, the savory Pad Kra Pao, and the flavorful fried rice were perfectly prepared, making for a standout performance.

Team 2

Team 2: This team served two contrasting yet delightful dishes. On the sweet side, they baked a Swedish Chocolate Lava Cake—soft, dense, bursting with rich chocolate, and perfectly sweetened without being heavy. On the savory side, they prepared a refreshing White Cut Chicken (白斩鸡). The chicken was wonderfully tender and served with a secret soy sauce and chili paste that elevated its complex flavors.

Team 3

Team 3: This team brought a classic Indonesian dish to the table: Soto Lamongan (Chicken Noodle Soup). The rich, golden broth was soaked up by the soft noodles, accompanied by tender chicken, crispy fried garlic, and a fresh squeeze of lime juice for an authentic, deeply satisfying taste.

Team 4

Team 4: Presenting two vastly different preparations of chicken, this team cooked Thai Fish Sauce Fried Chicken and classic Cola Chicken Wings. The fried chicken was tender with a subtle, savory hint of fish sauce, while the Cola wings were coated in a rich, sweet sauce that wasn't overpowering. Both dishes offered distinct, delightful flavor profiles.

Team 5

Team 5: This group whipped up a mouth-watering Indian Butter Chicken. A rich sauce made from a generous amount of butter and a complex spice blend from scratch, perfectly coated every piece of chicken. The creamy butter perfectly balanced the spices, and the tender chicken left everyone wanting more.

Team 6

Team 6: The final group served an authentic Pakistani Chicken Curry, paired with freshly made flatbread and a refreshing onion salad. The curry featured a bold, aromatic blend of spices that paired beautifully with the warm bread, while the onion salad provided a crisp, palate-cleansing contrast.

The event concluded with a grand tasting and voting session. All participants, alongside the professional chefs sampled the culinary creations and cast their votes for their favorite dishes. When the votes were tallied, Team 2 claimed first place thanks to their outstanding flavor combinations and expert execution, bringing the event to a perfect close!