HRC Student Mila Toshkova Represents Bulgaria in the AEHT Culinary Competition in Riga

Our graduating Culinary Arts student, Mila Toshkova, recently took her skills to the next level by participating in the 37^th AEHT Annual Conference and Competition in Riga, Latvia. Accompanied by her mentor and culinary instructor, Chef Viktorija Baltutyte, who served as a judge in the Vegetarian category, Mila had an invaluable experience representing our Academy and honing her craft on an international stage.

A Unique European Culinary Competition

The competition was organized by the European Association of Hotel and Tourism Schools (AEHT), an international non-governmental organization that promotes hospitality and tourism education across Europe. AEHT competitions provide a platform for culinary students from around 400 member schools across 40 European countries to challenge themselves and engage in cultural and educational exchanges.

As part of this experience, students were placed in international teams, requiring them to collaborate with peers from other countries. Mila’s team, which included students from Belgium and Lithuania, faced the exciting challenge of preparing a two-course menu from a mystery basket of ingredients, demonstrating both creativity and technical skill.

The Competition Challenge: Mastering Mystery Ingredients

Mila’s team was tasked with preparing a Cold Starter and a Main Course for three people, using Latvian herring, rye bread, and beetroot for the Cold Starter, and pork fillet, quince, and grey peas for the Main Course. As part of the challenge, each team had to incorporate at least four mystery ingredients while following specific culinary techniques, such as pickling, creating a crispy element, and preparing a sauce for the Main Course.

In addition to culinary preparation, the students participated in a blind tasting quiz, requiring them to identify flavors and ingredients. Communication was essential, as English was the competition language, and students were evaluated not only on their culinary skills but also on teamwork, kitchen hygiene, and presentation.

Learning and Growing in a Professional Culinary Environment

Mila’s experience at the AEHT competition was priceless. Competing at this level offered her the opportunity to test her skills, learn from international peers, and receive feedback from professional judges. Chef Viktorija Baltutyte was there to encourage Mila, as well as to judge the technical and taste aspects of the Vegetarian Category of the competition herself.

This event underlined the importance of practical experience in the culinary field, giving Mila a taste of what it’s like to work under pressure and to collaborate in a multicultural team—skills essential for a successful culinary career.

Join Our Culinary Arts Program and Unlock Your Potential

If you dream of competing on an international level and gaining valuable hands-on experience, consider joining our Culinary Arts program. Our students have the chance to learn from experienced instructors and participate in global events like AEHT Annual Conference and Competition, where they can gain a deeper understanding of culinary arts while making lifelong connections with peers and industry professionals.

Take the first step towards an exciting culinary career by enrolling in one of our programs today!