Mozambique’s Danny and North Macedonia’s Boyan Win Jury Awards; Agra Plans to Host an International Offline Event in 2027
AGRA: The winners of Golden Eye Chef 2026, an international culinary competition celebrating the talent, creativity and determination of visually impaired chefs, have been announced. Participants from 11 countries showcased their culinary skills and creativity. Representing India, Pinky Mangal won the People’s Choice Award for her popular dish, ‘Indori Khopra Patis’.
The online global award ceremony was held on October 31, 2026, celebrating the achievements of 19 official participants and one special showcase participant. This year’s theme was ‘The Global Table – Many Kitchens, One Family’, highlighting the diversity of cultures, traditions and culinary experiences through food.
The ceremony was hosted by Golden Eye Chef founder Akhil Srivastava and team member Chef Kuldeep Singh. The distinguished jury comprised Chef Ajay Sood, Chef Nand Lal Sharma and Chef Izzat Hussain.
Mozambique’s Danny Wins in the Totally Blind Category
In the jury awards, Danny from Mozambique secured first place in the totally blind category for his dish ‘Boat of Nations’. Wilson Torres Bohorquez from Colombia finished as runner-up with ‘Sabores del Hogar’, while Mariana Mandal from Slovenia secured third place for ‘Breaded Chicken’.
North Macedonia’s Boyan Wins in the Partially Sighted Category
In the partially sighted category, Boyan Veljanovski from North Macedonia won first prize for his dish ‘United by Taste’. Natalia Burdeina from Ukraine secured second place with the traditional dish ‘Ukrainian Borscht’, while Jesus Escandon Fernandez from Spain finished third with ‘Macaroni with Garlic Shrimp’.
India’s Pinky Mangal Wins People’s Choice Award
The People’s Choice Award recognised participants who received outstanding support from the global audience and community.
In the totally blind category, India’s Pinky Mangal secured first place for her dish ‘Indori Khopra Patis’. Wilson Torres Bohorquez from Colombia was declared runner-up.
In the partially sighted category, Natalia Burdeina from Ukraine won first place for ‘Ukrainian Borscht’, while Boyan Veljanovski from North Macedonia finished second for ‘United by Taste’.
Iran’s Masoumeh Honoured with Golden Spirit Award
Masoumeh Shafiei Mirsadeghi from Iran received the Golden Spirit Award for her dish ‘Northern Iranian Stuffed Eggplant’.
Despite facing difficulties with internet connectivity, video recording and submission, she successfully participated in the competition. Her determination and commitment reflected the true spirit of Golden Eye Chef, which celebrates courage, perseverance and the ability to overcome challenges.
Participants Share Their Experiences and Achievements
During the ceremony, participants shared their personal experiences and the impact of Golden Eye Chef on their lives.
India’s Pinky Mangal said that Golden Eye Chef had given her social recognition and greater confidence. She joined the platform for the first time in 2021 and subsequently received several opportunities to showcase her talent. She also recently participated in MasterChef India.
Danny from Mozambique expressed happiness and surprise at winning the award. He explained that he began cooking independently when he moved away from home for his studies. His childhood interest gradually developed into a passion. Today, he also creates digital cooking content for visually impaired chefs through YouTube and TikTok.
Wilson Torres Bohorquez from Colombia shared his experience of participating with the support of his family and communicating in English during the international competition. He expressed gratitude to the global community and his desire to participate again.
Natalia Burdeina from Ukraine also shared her experience, explaining that her award-winning recipe was based on a traditional family preparation. It was her first cooking video competition, and the encouragement from Chef Izzat Hussain motivated her to aim for the top position in future editions.
‘Stories Behind Every Dish’: A Special Book Planned for 2027
During the ceremony, Golden Eye Chef founder Akhil Srivastava announced plans to publish a special book titled ‘Stories Behind Every Dish’.
The proposed publication will feature inspiring stories of 48 participants from 24 countries. It will highlight their personal journeys, cultural heritage, struggles, dreams and achievements behind every dish.
The book is scheduled for publication on June 1, 2027.
Agra Plans an International Offline Golden Eye Chef Event in 2027
Plans have been proposed to organise an offline international edition of Golden Eye Chef in Agra in 2027.
The proposed event aims to bring together 24 chefs, including 12 totally blind and 12 partially sighted participants from different countries.
Along with the culinary competition, the programme is expected to feature demonstrations of accessible kitchen equipment, interactions with designers, skill-development activities and discussions on promoting inclusion in the global culinary industry.
However, the final format and implementation of the event will depend on financial support and the availability of necessary resources.
A Global Platform for Talent, Confidence and Inclusion
Launched in 2019, Golden Eye Chef has emerged as an international platform that enables visually impaired chefs to showcase their culinary abilities, gain global recognition and explore opportunities in the culinary world.
Organised by Agra-based voluntary organisation Antardrishti, the initiative promotes equal opportunities and inclusion in the field of cooking.
Its inspiring message, ‘Cooking Beyond Seeing’, highlights the belief that talent is not defined by eyesight but by creativity, passion, determination and the ability to create something exceptional.
Official Website: https://goldeneyechef.com
Golden Eye Chef 2026: https://2026.goldeneyechef.com
TIMES OF TAJ | News & Views
Disclaimer: This report is based on information and official results shared by the organisers.
