Dani from Mozambique and Bojan Veljanovski from North Macedonia win Jury Awards in the Totally Blind and Partially Blind categories, respectively; Wilson Torres Bohórquez of Colombia and Nataliia Burdeina of Ukraine emerge as runners-up, while Masoumeh Shafiei Mirsadeghi of Iran receives the Golden Spirit Award.
Agra, 1 November 2026: Golden Eye Chef 2026 concluded with its Global Recognition Ceremony on 31 October 2026, celebrating the culinary excellence, creativity, determination and achievements of blind and visually impaired chefs from across the world.
Organised by Antardrishti, the international competition brought together 19 official entries and one Special Showcase from 11 countries, under the theme “The Global Table – Many Kitchens, One Family.”
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. Akhil Srivastava and Chef Kuldeep Singh expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the three distinguished jury members of Golden Eye Chef 2026: Chef Ajay Sood, Chef Nand Lal Sharma, and Chef Izzat Husain.
The programme featured reflections from jury member Chef Izzat Husain, the announcement of Jury Awards and People’s Choice Awards in two categories, and the presentation of the Golden Spirit Award.
Jury Awards
In the Totally Blind category, Dani from Mozambique was declared the Winner for his dish Boat of Nations. Wilson Torres Bohórquez from Colombia received the Runner-up award for Sabores del Hogar, while Marijana Mandl from Slovenia was named Second Runner-up for Breaded Chicken.
In the Partially Blind category, Bojan Veljanovski from North Macedonia won the Jury Award for United by Taste. Nataliia Burdeina from Ukraine received the Runner-up award for Ukrainian Borscht, and Jesus Escandón Fernández from Spain was named Second Runner-up for Macaroni With Garlic Shrimp.
The jury acknowledged the remarkable quality of the entries and noted that selecting the winners had been a challenging task, given the talent, effort and creativity demonstrated by all participants.
People’s Choice Awards
The People’s Choice Awards recognised entries that received appreciation and engagement from audiences on YouTube.
In the Totally Blind category, Pinky Mangal from India won for Indori Khopra Patis, while Wilson Torres Bohórquez from Colombia received the Runner-up award for Sabores del Hogar.
In the Partially Blind category, Nataliia Burdeina from Ukraine won for Ukrainian Borscht, while Bojan Veljanovski from North Macedonia was named Runner-up for United by Taste.
Both Wilson Torres Bohórquez and Nataliia Burdeina received recognition in the Jury Awards as well as the People’s Choice Awards, reflecting appreciation from both the jury and the audience.
Golden Spirit Award: Celebrating Extraordinary Determination
A special highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of the Golden Spirit Award to Masoumeh Shafiei Mirsadeghi from Iran for her dish Northern Iranian Stuffed Eggplant.
The award recognises exceptional determination, perseverance and commitment in overcoming extraordinary challenges to participate in the competition.
The organisers highlighted the difficulties Masoumeh faced in recording and submitting her entry amid challenging circumstances and severe internet connectivity issues. Her determination to participate despite these obstacles embodied the spirit of Golden Eye Chef.
Instituted in 2026, the Golden Spirit Award celebrates the human spirit behind culinary participation and is intended to continue in future editions.
Participants Share Their Journeys
The ceremony also provided an opportunity for participants to share their experiences and aspirations.
Pinky Mangal, the People’s Choice Award winner from India, reflected on her journey with Golden Eye Chef, which began in 2021. Speaking in Hindi, she expressed how the platform had given her identity and recognition in society. She also mentioned her recent participation in MasterChef India and credited Golden Eye Chef with helping create a new identity for blind people like herself.
Dani from Mozambique shared his passion for cooking and his initiative to create digital content for blind cooks and chefs. He expressed his interest in making cooking knowledge more accessible and building a collaborative community for sharing recipes, techniques and practical experiences.
Wilson Torres Bohórquez from Colombia expressed gratitude for the support of his family and shared his aspiration to participate in a future live edition of Golden Eye Chef.
Nataliia Burdeina from Ukraine spoke about her experience of participating in the competition for the first time through a cooking video and expressed happiness at receiving recognition for her traditional family recipe.
These interactions reinforced the broader purpose of Golden Eye Chef: creating opportunities for talent, self-expression, confidence, visibility and global recognition.
Looking Ahead: Stories Behind Every Dish and Golden Eye Chef 2027
During the ceremony, Akhil Srivastava announced the forthcoming publication of Stories Behind Every Dish, planned for 1 June 2027. The book is expected to feature 48 stories from 24 countries, drawn from the journeys and experiences of Golden Eye Chef participants since 2019.
He also shared plans for a proposed offline edition of Golden Eye Chef in Agra in 2027. The preliminary programme and planning have been prepared, with implementation dependent on securing adequate financial resources and support.
The proposed live event aims to provide participants with opportunities to cook in person, interact with fellow chefs and experience an inclusive culinary platform beyond the digital format.
A Celebration Beyond Awards
Reflecting on the conclusion of the 2026 edition, Akhil Srivastava, Founder of Golden Eye Chef, said that the initiative was about much more than competition and awards. Every participant brought a unique culinary tradition, personal story and journey of determination.
The organisers expressed gratitude to the jury members, participants, families, supporters and the Golden Eye Chef team for their contributions in making the international edition possible.
Golden Eye Chef continues to work towards building a global culinary community where blind and visually impaired chefs can showcase their abilities, exchange knowledge and receive recognition for their achievements.
Golden Eye Chef
Cooking Beyond Seeing.
Website: https://goldeneyechef.com
2026 Edition: https://2026.goldeneyechef.com