Sweet success for Arjun and Manjot

GURGAON: Success tasted sweet for Arjun Gupta and Manjot Kalra, who won the first ever Junior Pastry Indian Cup. The two-day event, which was held at the Academy of Pastry Arts in Gurgaon, saw the country's most talented young pâtissiers vie for the title of India’s best ‘junior pastry chef’.
The competition was open to pastry chefs aged between 18 and 22, all seeking to use chocolate and sugar to come up with creations both classic and funky.And, based on overall imagination and presentation, Gupta ('best sugar display') and Kalra ('best chocolate display') were declared the winners.
Besides preparing 'sculptures' based on chocolate and sugar, the contenders are also required to present dessert on a plate and in a glass. Among the parameters used by the judging panel were artistic expression and technical skill, as well as professional ethics, hygiene and taste.
The jury comprised of Avijit Ghosh, corporate pastry chef, The Leela Hotels, Palaces and Resorts; TV show host, chef and food stylist Ranveer Brar; Parvinder Singh Bali, corporate chef, learning and development, Oberoi Centre for Learning and Development; and Nikesh Kumar Sharma, MD of hosts Academy of Pastry Arts.
“It’s important to bring talent and industry together on platforms that challenge and engage. The Junior Pastry Indian Cup is such a platform that creates an ecosystem of learning and growth. I am proud to be associated with this forum,” said Brar.
According to Sanjay Anand, director, Hammer Publishers (of ‘Bakery Review’ magazine), the 'Cup' will give a fillip to the art of pastry making in India, and encourage more youngsters to aspire to be pâtissiers.
Gupta and Kalra will now represent India at the Junior World Pastry Cup in Rimini, Italy. This will be held at SIGEP, an exhibition that’s regarded as the international Mecca for artisan pastries, gelatos and bakery preparations. Both, incidentally, will undergo further professional training to enhance their skills.