Major Distinctions and Strong Presence of Intercollege at the South Europe Culinary Challenge 2026
With great pride, Intercollege announces the significant distinctions and dynamic participation of students and faculty from the Culinary Arts programmes at the international competition South Europe Culinary Challenge 2026, which took place in Thessaloniki from February 26 to March 2, 2026.
The gastronomy competitions were organized by Culinary Professionals Greece, within the framework of the international exhibition Artozyma 2026, hosted at the Helexpo Exhibition Center. The event brought together more than 300 competitors from 15 countries, confirming its international character and high standards.
The South Europe International Culinary & Pastry Competition is held under the auspices of Worldchefs – the World Association of Chefs’ Societies – making it one of the most important gastronomic events in the wider region.
The participation of Intercollege students and faculty was an exceptional learning and creative experience, offering participants the opportunity to compete alongside distinguished professionals and emerging chefs from around the world, exchange ideas, and showcase their talent and skills in a demanding international environment.
The competition is not merely a culinary contest, but a unique platform for healthy competition, education, and creative exchange among culinary professionals. For participants, it represents much more than a competition; it is a meeting point for chefs from the global gastronomic community and an opportunity for a rich cultural and gastronomic experience.
Intercollege warmly congratulates all students and faculty members who participated and represented the institution with excellence, contributing to the promotion of talent, creativity, and the high level of education offered by its Culinary Arts programmes.
The continued participation of Intercollege students in international competitions and gastronomic events reaffirms the institution’s commitment to excellence, hands-on education, and global outreach in the field of gastronomy.
The students who participated in the competition were Eleni Vakana, Frans Kevin Kachefe, Anastasia Papanikolaou, Christina Kalogirou, and Polydoros Theodosiou.
They achieved the following distinctions:
- 1 × Silver Medal in the category “Best School of the Year”
- 1 × Silver Medal in the Lamb category
- 1 × Silver Medal in the Fresh Pasta category
- 1 × Silver Medal in the Restaurant Dessert category
- Gold Medal OVERALL in the category “Student Pastry Chef of the Year”
