Upcoming Thai chefs compete for top honours in Australian Fruits Recipe Competition held by Dusit Thani College
Thailand’s next generation of culinary talent went head-to-head yesterday in the final of the Australian Fruits Recipe Competition, held alongside the signing of a new memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Avocados Australia and Dusit Thani College.
The event, at Dusit Thani College’s Bangkok campus, brought together emerging Thai chefs, Australian horticulture industry representatives and government officials to celebrate creative Thai and South-East Asian dishes built around Australian avocados, table grapes and summerfruit.
Ten recipes were shortlisted and renowned chef Audra Morrice selected three finalists. They cooked live, followed by tasting, judging and individual presentations.
Judging focused on balance, technique, originality and how effectively each chef understood and used the featured Australian fruits. Apichaya Pubyom was crowned the winner for a shrimp avocado dish that combines Australian avocado and Thai shrimp using the flavours of traditional Thai yum.
The competition is part of the Australian Fruits Culinary Programme, a regional initiative bringing together Australian horticulture industries, culinary institutions and emerging chefs across South-East Asia.
The programme combines culinary training, recipe competitions and industry engagement to build product knowledge, encourage locally relevant applications and strengthen long-term connections between Australian industry and the region’s culinary community.
It is supported by the ASEAN-Australia Centre and the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), and delivered with Avocados Australia, the Australian Table Grape Association, Summerfruit Australia and regional education partners.
Ahead of the final, finalists took part in a culinary training programme covering the handling, ripeness, storage, preparation and menu applications of Australian fruit, designed to build genuine product understanding before creative application in the kitchen.
As part of the event, Avocados Australia and Dusit Thani College signed an MoU to formalise their relationship and establish a platform for ongoing cooperation in culinary education, ingredient knowledge and training. The MOU was signed by Atthawet Prougestaporn, rector of Dusit Thani College, Brad Rodgers, West Australian avocado grower and director of Avocados Australia, and witnessed by Pablo Kang, Australian ambassador to Thailand.
“Working with Dusit Thani College gives us an opportunity to build capability with the next generation of chefs and deepen their understanding of Australian avocados,” Rodgers said.
“By giving students the knowledge and confidence to work creatively with our produce, we can encourage new applications that are relevant to Thai consumers and foodservice.
“This partnership is about building long-term relationships and creating stronger foundations for Australian avocados in the Thai market.”.
