• The MLA Young Chef Pencil Box Culinary Challenge started in 2007. It was created to encourage young chefs from different schools and institutions to showcase their culinary talents using quality Australian red meat. Competitions have been conducted in South Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, and the Philippines.
  • The competition is open to student chefs 23 years old and below who are currently undertaking a culinary program in any recognized institution. Only one representative per institution can be sent to compete.
  • Each contestant has three hours to finish two main courses using beef and lamb provided by the event organizers.
  • The dishes are judged according to creativity, the chef’s planning and process in producing the dish, hygiene, skills, and most importantly taste and presentation.
  • A panel of international experts and judges inspects the work of each contestant.
  • The audience includes food lovers and other aspiring chefs providing the competitors moral support.
  • Smoke billows up in the competition area and the delicious smell of the dishes fills the air.
  • After two and a half hours, the first dishes are displayed.
  • The young chefs hurry to finish their dishes as judging begins.
  • The awarding ceremony is held the following night. As an icebreaker, the hosts give away gift certificates from sponsors during a ‘bring me’ game.
  • The panel of judges, who hail from countries such as Singapore, Netherlands, Hong Kong, and Macau, are presented on stage.
  • A flash mob dances to Pharrell Williams’ hit song “Happy.”
  • The participants of the Young Chef Pencil Box competition are given a special gift bag from the sponsors and awarded with a certificate of participation.
  • The winners of the competition: second runner-up Zorren Boy Mansalud Leonardo from Central Luzon College of Science and Technology- Olongapo City; first runner-up Arvin Muñoz from Lyceum of the Philippines University, and winner Noelle Magcale from MOST Institute. The top three received cash prizes, and a chance to attend the HKICC (Hong Kong International Culinary Classic) 2015 in Hong Kong.