At the Battle of the Pastry & Bakery Chefs 2025 international pastry and bread competition in Penang (Malaysia) with the participation of more than 400 chefs from many Asian countries, Chef Sam Thi Van excellently won the Bronze Medal in the Petits Fours or Pralines Formation category. The Bronze Medal in Penang this time not only affirms her skills, but also proves the spirit of continuous learning of a dedicated artisan. “The baking profession never stops. Every challenge, every competition is an opportunity for me to renew myself and inspire the next generation,” Chef Van shared.
Chef Sam Thi Van - a veteran instructor at Tan Nhat Huong Center won a Bronze Medal in one of the difficult categories - Petits Fours or Pralines Formation.
“I want to step out of my comfort zone”
At the age of 47, after more than 25 years in the baking profession and more than 13 years of teaching, Chef Sam Thi Van decided to compete internationally for the first time. When asked why, she shared: “I was invited to compete before, but my teaching and recipe research at Tan Nhat Huong were too busy.
This year, I felt that I should try to step out of my 'comfort zone', seek new experiences and learn trends from other countries. I also wanted to face real-life pressure to have more teaching materials for students. Honestly, I entered the competition with a learning mindset, not expecting any awards. Therefore, when I won the Bronze Medal, my feelings were a mixture of surprise and happiness."
The Petits Fours or Pralines Formation category is considered one of the most difficult competitions, because contestants must make a collection of 6 types of tiny cakes, each weighing only 8-14g, completely by hand, requiring maximum technique, dexterity and creativity. “Right from the preparation stage in Vietnam, I tried the recipe over and over again. But when entering the competition, everything changed completely. Many of the ingredients I brought were not suitable or could not be used. I had to mix them from scratch, adjusting the recipe on the spot. I even forgot to prepare a display model, a mandatory condition for being judged for appearance, so I had to 'put out the fire' on the spot", she shared.
From judges to contestants - an emotional "reset"
Having been a judge in many domestic competitions, this was the first time Chef Sam Thi Van competed internationally. She described the experience as “very different”: “As a judge, I observed and evaluated. But when entering the competition as a contestant, the feeling of excitement and pressure was completely different. I felt like I was back in the early days of my career, having to apply all the techniques and creativity in a very short period of time. That experience made me feel younger and motivated to renew my thinking.”
This is the first time the competition has been organized specifically for the pastry and bread sector, under the supervision of Worldchefs - the most prestigious global professional organization in the culinary industry, with members in more than 100 countries. The jury includes big names such as Chef Kenny Kong (Singapore), Chef Willment Leong (Asia), Chef Audee Cheah (Malaysia).
Of which, Tan Nhat Huong Center had 4 lecturers participating, bringing home 4 Gold Medals, 1 Silver Medal and 4 Bronze Medals, contributing significantly to the overall victory of the Vietnamese delegation.
Tan Nhat Huong Group is the sponsor of all the decorative cream ingredients for the Vietnamese team's entries. Contestants from Vietnam all highly appreciate the quality of Tan Nhat Huong's cream, especially the Silver cream line with its smooth texture, easy to work with, good durability, helping bakers create precise and highly aesthetic shapes for the entries.
With more than two decades of working in the F&B industry, Tan Nhat Huong Group is a pioneering Vietnamese enterprise in the field of manufacturing and distributing raw materials for the bakery and beverage industry. Currently, Tan Nhat Huong owns a comprehensive ecosystem including: production of ice cream and raw materials for baking and beverage, training in baking and beverage, supermarket chains supplying raw materials, accessories and tools for the bakery and beverage industry. Tan Nhat Huong brings synchronous, high-quality solutions, gradually becoming a companion of the baking and beverage community as well as bakery chains, coffee shops, restaurants and businesses.
Phuong Dung
Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/trai-nghiem-day-cam-xuc-cua-giang-vien-tan-nhat-huong-tren-dau-truong-quoc-te-2427380.html
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