Golden Eye Chef 2026
Global Recognition Ceremony and Award Announcement
A Celebration of Culinary Talent, Courage and Inclusion
Date: Saturday, 31 October 2026
Time: 8:00 PM IST
Venue: Online via Zoom
Hosts: Akhil Srivastava, Founder, Golden Eye Chef; Chef Kuldeep Singh, Team Member, Golden Eye Chef
1. Introduction
Golden Eye Chef 2026 concluded with its Global Recognition Ceremony on 31 October 2026, bringing together participants, jury members, organisers and supporters from across the world for an evening of celebration, recognition and reflection.
Under the theme “The Global Table – Many Kitchens, One Family,” the 2026 edition celebrated the culinary talent, creativity, determination and personal stories of blind and visually impaired chefs. The competition featured 19 official entries and one Special Showcase from 11 countries.
The online ceremony was hosted by Akhil Srivastava, Founder of Golden Eye Chef, and Chef Kuldeep Singh, a member of the Golden Eye Chef team associated with the initiative since 2019.
The programme included reflections from the jury, announcement of the Jury Awards in two categories, the People’s Choice Awards, presentation of the Golden Spirit Award, interactions with award recipients, and a discussion about the future of Golden Eye Chef.
2. Opening Remarks and Reflections from the Jury
The ceremony began with a welcome to participants and attendees. Akhil Srivastava invited Chef Izzat Husain, one of the distinguished jury members of Golden Eye Chef 2026, to share his experience of evaluating the competition.
Chef Izzat Husain appreciated the efforts of the Golden Eye Chef team and acknowledged the quality of the entries. He shared that he had watched the participants’ videos and found their presentations impressive, with some being particularly extraordinary.
He emphasised that selecting the first, second and third positions had been a difficult task because every participant had demonstrated commendable ability, effort and creativity. He congratulated all participants and appreciated the work of the organising team.
His remarks set the tone for the ceremony, reinforcing the belief that awards recognise particular achievements without diminishing the accomplishments of other participants.
3. Reflections by the Founder
Akhil Srivastava reflected on the central idea behind the 2026 edition: celebrating the culinary traditions, cultural identities and personal stories behind every dish.
Golden Eye Chef was designed not merely to evaluate cooking skills but also to create opportunities for participants to share their experiences, traditions and journeys with a global audience.
Announcement of the forthcoming storybook
Akhil announced the upcoming publication of Stories Behind Every Dish.
The book is planned for publication on 1 June 2027, coinciding with the anniversary of the first Golden Eye Chef competition, which began on 1 June 2019.
The proposed publication will feature 48 stories from 24 countries, drawn from the experiences of participants associated with Golden Eye Chef since 2019.
The book aims to preserve the stories, culinary traditions and lived experiences of participating chefs and introduce readers to their journeys.
Plans for Golden Eye Chef 2027
Akhil also shared plans for an offline edition of Golden Eye Chef in Agra in 2027.
The initial programme schedule and preliminary planning have been prepared. The final implementation, however, will depend on securing adequate financial resources and support.
The proposed live competition would create opportunities for participants to cook in person, interact with one another and experience the event beyond the digital format.
4. Jury Awards – Totally Blind Category
Chef Kuldeep Singh announced the Jury Awards in the Totally Blind category. Before announcing the results, he reiterated that every participant had performed admirably and that the rankings reflected the competition’s evaluation rather than a lack of merit among the other participants.
Second Runner-up
Marijana Mandl – Slovenia
Dish: Breaded Chicken
Score: 256/300
Marijana Mandl received the Second Runner-up award for her preparation of Breaded Chicken.
Chef Izzat Husain specifically recalled her cooking technique, particularly the way she handled frying. The jury appreciated her confidence and ability to perform a cooking process that requires careful attention to temperature, timing and safety.
Runner-up
Wilson Torres Bohórquez – Colombia
Dish: Sabores del Hogar
Flavours of Home
Score: 265/300
Wilson Torres Bohórquez was announced as the Runner-up in the Totally Blind category.
Wilson joined the ceremony and expressed his gratitude with assistance from a family member who helped with communication in English. He shared that he was delighted with the recognition and hoped to meet the Golden Eye Chef team in person in a future edition.
He also expressed his wish to participate again and potentially cook live.
Winner
Dani – Mozambique
Dish: Boat of Nations
Score: 266/300
Dani from Mozambique was announced as the Winner of the Jury Award in the Totally Blind category.
The announcement came as a surprise to Dani, who shared that he had woken up shortly before the ceremony and had not expected to receive the award.
During the interaction, Dani spoke about his personal journey with cooking. Having moved away from home to pursue his studies, he gradually developed cooking as a hobby and a way of spending time independently. He recalled his childhood curiosity in the kitchen, frequently asking his mother questions about ingredients and cooking techniques.
Dani also shared that he had started creating digital content to explain cooking techniques and experiences to other blind chefs and cooks. Through his YouTube and TikTok activities, he hopes to make cooking knowledge more accessible and ensure that blind viewers do not feel excluded.
Akhil appreciated Dani’s initiative to create a collaborative space within the Golden Eye Chef community for sharing recipes, cooking techniques and practical tips. Both expressed the hope that this exchange of knowledge would continue to grow and benefit participants beyond the competition.
5. Jury Awards – Partially Blind Category
The Jury Awards in the Partially Blind category were announced next.
Second Runner-up
Jesus Escandón Fernández – Spain
Dish: Macaroni With Garlic Shrimp
Score: 252/300
Jesus Escandón Fernández from Spain was announced as the Second Runner-up. The organisers conveyed their congratulations and appreciation for his achievement.
Runner-up
Nataliia Burdeina – Ukraine
Dish: Ukrainian Borscht
Score: 255/300
Nataliia Burdeina from Ukraine received the Runner-up award.
Nataliia joined the ceremony despite facing internet connectivity difficulties. She expressed surprise and gratitude at the recognition, sharing that the dish was a traditional family recipe and that participating in Golden Eye Chef had been a wonderful experience.
She also mentioned that this was her first time sharing a cooking presentation through video.
Chef Izzat Husain appreciated her culinary skills and encouraged her to continue developing her abilities, expressing confidence that she could aim for the top position in a future edition.
Winner
Bojan Veljanovski – North Macedonia
Dish: United by Taste
Score: 273/300
Bojan Veljanovski from North Macedonia was announced as the Winner of the Jury Award in the Partially Blind category for his dish United by Taste.
The organisers congratulated him on his achievement and acknowledged the quality of his culinary presentation.
6. People’s Choice Awards
The People’s Choice Award recognises participants whose entries receive significant appreciation and engagement from audiences on YouTube. The award is distinct from the Jury Awards and celebrates public appreciation for the participants and their culinary creations.
The results were announced separately for the two categories.
Totally Blind Category
Winner: Pinky Mangal – India
Dish: Indori Khopra Patis
Engagements: 2,738
Pinky Mangal received the People’s Choice Award in the Totally Blind category for her entry, Indori Khopra Patis.
The organisers congratulated Pinky on receiving strong audience appreciation and recognition.
Runner-up: Wilson Torres Bohórquez – Colombia
Dish: Sabores del Hogar
Engagements: 2,282
Wilson Torres Bohórquez was announced as the Runner-up in the Totally Blind People’s Choice Award.
During his interaction, Wilson thanked the audience and fellow participants from different countries. He acknowledged the engagement with his video and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to participate.
He also shared his wish to return in the next edition and cook live in front of the Golden Eye Chef team.
Partially Blind Category
Winner: Nataliia Burdeina – Ukraine
Dish: Ukrainian Borscht
Engagements: 4,054
Nataliia Burdeina received the People’s Choice Award in the Partially Blind category, adding to her Runner-up recognition in the Jury Awards.
She expressed happiness and gratitude at receiving the recognition and thanked everyone for their support.
Runner-up: Bojan Veljanovski – North Macedonia
Dish: United by Taste
Engagements: 1,191
Bojan Veljanovski from North Macedonia was announced as the Runner-up in the Partially Blind People’s Choice Award.
His entry also received the Jury Award in the same category, demonstrating appreciation from both the jury and the audience.
7. The Golden Spirit Award: Recognising Extraordinary Determination
Golden Eye Chef 2026 introduced a special recognition: the Golden Spirit Award.
The award was conceived to acknowledge exceptional determination, courage and commitment demonstrated by a participant in overcoming extraordinary circumstances to take part in the competition.
Recipient
Masoumeh Shafiei Mirsadeghi – Iran
Dish: Northern Iranian Stuffed Eggplant
Masoumeh Shafiei Mirsadeghi from Iran received the Golden Spirit Award.
The organisers explained the significance of this recognition by referring to the difficult circumstances prevailing in Iran and the extraordinary challenges faced by the participant while preparing and submitting her entry.
The process involved recording the cooking video, uploading the file and maintaining communication with the organising team despite severe internet connectivity difficulties. At times, messages took several days to reach her or receive a response.
Despite these obstacles, Masoumeh remained committed to participating in Golden Eye Chef 2026.
The organisers emphasised that her participation represented perseverance, determination and a remarkable spirit of inclusion. The award was introduced to recognise such extraordinary efforts and is intended to continue in future editions.
The Golden Spirit Award therefore represents an important addition to Golden Eye Chef’s recognition framework, celebrating not only culinary excellence but also the human spirit behind participation.
8. Acknowledgement of the Jury
Akhil Srivastava and Chef Kuldeep Singh expressed their gratitude to the three jury members of Golden Eye Chef 2026:
- Chef Ajay Sood
- Chef Nand Lal Sharma
- Chef Izzat Husain
Chef Izzat Husain attended the ceremony and participated in the interactions with award recipients.
Chef Ajay Sood was unable to join the ceremony as he was attending another professional culinary engagement.
Chef Nand Lal Sharma made efforts to join the ceremony but was unable to do so due to technical difficulties.
The organisers expressed their sincere appreciation to all three jury members for their time, expertise, thoughtful evaluation and support for Golden Eye Chef 2026.
9. Feedback, Encouragement and Interaction with Participants
An important part of the ceremony was the opportunity for participants to share their thoughts, experiences and suggestions.
Chef Kuldeep Singh encouraged those who had not received awards to remain motivated and continue improving their skills. He reminded them that every participant was a winner in the broader sense because each had demonstrated talent, effort and determination.
He encouraged participants to practise, refine their techniques and return in future editions with renewed confidence.
Akhil acknowledged the challenges faced by participants in preparing competition videos. Many depended on family members, friends or volunteers for recording their cooking activities, ensuring the required duration and uploading their entries.
The organisers expressed their intention to explore a live cooking format in the next edition, which could reduce some of these challenges while providing a more interactive and engaging experience.
Dani’s request for feedback
Dani from Mozambique asked the jury for suggestions on how he could improve his cooking and presentation.
Chef Izzat Husain appreciated Dani’s performance and explained that his skills were already strong. He suggested that Dani explore dishes that offer greater visual appeal to the audience, while continuing to refine his culinary techniques.
Akhil also appreciated Dani’s lifelong interest in cooking and encouraged him to continue learning and experimenting.
Dani thanked the jury for the constructive feedback and expressed his willingness to incorporate the suggestions into his future culinary journey.
10. Pinky Mangal’s Reflections: A Journey of Recognition and Identity
Pinky Mangal, the People’s Choice Award Winner in the Totally Blind category, was present at the ceremony and shared her views in Hindi. Her heartfelt remarks reflected the profound impact Golden Eye Chef has had on her personal journey, confidence and identity.
Expressing her happiness at receiving the award, Pinky said:
“I was extremely happy to hear that I had received the award. I want to say that whatever I am today, I owe a great deal to Golden Eye Chef. I first participated in Golden Eye Chef in 2021, and since then, the platform has given me an identity and recognition in society.
I recently participated in MasterChef India as well. Golden Eye Chef has given blind people like us a new identity.”
Her remarks highlighted the transformative role of Golden Eye Chef in her life. From her first participation in 2021 to her subsequent appearance on MasterChef India, Pinky’s journey reflects how opportunities to demonstrate talent can help build confidence, visibility and recognition.
Her testimony was a powerful reminder that the true success of Golden Eye Chef lies not only in the awards presented, but also in the lives it touches and the identities it helps shape.
11. Participants’ Appreciation and Aspirations
The ceremony highlighted the importance of family support, community and shared learning.
Wilson Torres Bohórquez expressed gratitude to his family members, including his wife, siblings, relatives and interpreter, who supported his culinary journey. He shared that cooking had become a meaningful way of bringing joy to his family and others.
He extended an invitation to the Golden Eye Chef team to visit Colombia and expressed interest in participating in a future live cooking event.
The organisers welcomed the invitation and reiterated their interest in creating opportunities for in-person participation in the future.
Participants also expressed enthusiasm about meeting one another, exchanging culinary experiences and learning from chefs across different countries and cultures.
12. Vision for Golden Eye Chef 2027
The ceremony concluded with a discussion about the proposed 2027 edition.
Akhil Srivastava shared that the team had already begun working on the next edition. The programme schedule and preliminary planning were in place, and the intention was to organise a live event in Agra.
However, the implementation would depend on securing adequate financial resources to support travel, accommodation, venue arrangements, accessibility and the overall programme.
The organisers expressed their determination to continue working towards the live event and invited participants, supporters and well-wishers to encourage and support the initiative.
The prospect of cooking together in person generated considerable enthusiasm among participants and jury members.
13. Closing Remarks
As the ceremony drew to a close, Chef Kuldeep Singh thanked all participants, jury members, supporters and members of the Golden Eye Chef team.
He acknowledged Akhil Srivastava’s sustained efforts and commitment to building a platform that celebrates culinary talent and inclusion. He also appreciated the dedication of the jury members and the enthusiasm of participants from across the world.
Akhil Srivastava reiterated that Golden Eye Chef was about much more than winning a competition. Every participant had contributed a unique story, culinary tradition and personal journey.
He expressed gratitude to everyone who had made the 2026 edition possible and encouraged all participants to remain connected, continue sharing their knowledge and return in future editions.
The ceremony ended with congratulations, appreciation and renewed hope for the next chapter of Golden Eye Chef.
14. Looking Ahead
Golden Eye Chef 2026 was a celebration of culinary excellence, determination, creativity and the power of shared experiences.
The ceremony reaffirmed the initiative’s commitment to building an inclusive global culinary community in which blind and visually impaired chefs can showcase their abilities, learn from one another and receive recognition for their achievements.
With the forthcoming Stories Behind Every Dish publication and the proposed live edition in Agra in 2027, Golden Eye Chef continues to look towards a future where culinary talent connects people across borders, cultures and experiences.
Golden Eye Chef
Cooking Beyond Seeing.