Cook-N-Battle: From the best culinary school in Switzerland to the world’s best first-class airport lounge

Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland (CAAS) recently hosted an exciting event that brought the culinary creativity of its students into the spotlight: the Cook-N-Battle culinary competition. This highly anticipated cooking contest took place at the scenic campus in Le Bouvret and featured six teams of students competing head-to-head to create the best menu in just three hours. Not only was the competition intense, but the prize was truly unique—an opportunity for the winning team’s dish to be featured at the world-renowned SWISS First Class Lounge at Zurich Airport, operated by gategroup’s premium hospitality brand, Uqonic.

Fall food ideas fuel the fusion competiton

Cook-N-Battle is planned to be an annual event held towards the end of August, which will make it a major highlight for students at CAAS. This inaugural year, buzzed through the air as students from both the Bouveret and Brig campuses teamed up to compete. The six teams, each composed of two students, were carefully selected by Chef Christopher Emerling based on their portfolios, which demonstrated their culinary skills, creativity, and passion for the craft.

The competition format was straightforward yet challenging: each team was given three hours to craft a dish using a basket of seasonal ingredients that reflected the theme of "Autumn Swiss Fusion." The task wasn’t just about cooking—students not only had to come up with unique fall food ideas, they also needed to present their dishes with flair and originality to a panel of esteemed judges. The stakes were high, with the winning dish set to be served to some of the world’s most discerning travelers at Zurich Airport's SWISS First-Class Lounge for one month, starting in October 2024.

A prestigious panel of judges set a high bar

The judging panel for Cook-N-Battle was composed of a blend of external and internal experts, each bringing a wealth of culinary and industry experience. The panel included:

• Hubertus Henning, General Manager of Gate Group, responsible for the SWISS First-Class Lounge operations

• Daniel Dittrich, Executive Chef of Gate Group and Uqonic Lounges

• Michael Schiess, Lounge Experience Manager at SWISS

These culinary professionals evaluated each dish based on several criteria, including creativity, execution, presentation, and the ability to fit the high standards of the SWISS First-Class Lounge dining experience. The judges were not only impressed by the technical prowess of the students but also by their passion for creating innovative food and beverage experiences.

It was an incredible experience to see six teams of incredibly talented students showcase their culinary skills and creativity. The dishes they prepared were outstanding, and it was a tough decision for us to choose a winner.

^{- Hubertus Henning, General Manager of Gate Group}

The winning recipe: "Bree Bao Meets Pumpkin"

After hours of intense competition, the team of Madeleine Flekstad and Lara Kocagoncü emerged victorious with their vegetarian dish titled "Bree Bao Meets Pumpkin."  The dish was a fusion of Swiss autumn flavors, offering a sophisticated twist on a bao bun, a traditionally Asian culinary creation. This innovative dish featured:

• A homemade Bree Bao bun with quince-beer glazed pulled pumpkin

• A rich and spicy chili-brie sauce

• Quince sauté, pickled red onions, fresh plum tomatoes, and chervil

• A side of crispy kale chips with a spicy kick

The dish embodied the essence of the season, combining local Swiss ingredients with global culinary influences, a nod to the international ethos of CAAS. The students’ thoughtful approach to flavors, textures, and presentation left the judges thoroughly impressed.

Best fall menu grants airport lounge access

The grand prize for Madeleine and Lara’s culinary excellence was more than just the honor of winning the Cook-N-Battle competition. Their dish will now take center stage at Zurich Airport’s SWISS First Class Lounge, recently awarded the title of "World’s Best First-Class Lounge" at the 2024 Skytrax Awards. 

This exclusive lounge is the epitome of luxury, offering a refined dining experience to first-class travelers from around the globe. To have a dish featured in this environment is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for any young chef, and it represents a significant achievement for Madeleine and Lara, as well as for CAAS

In addition to having their dish served in one of the world’s best airport lounges, the two winners were invited to Zurich in September for a VIP tour of the airport’s lounges. Accompanied by their mentor, Chef Chris Emerling, the students had the chance to meet the local chefs who would be responsible for preparing their dish for first-class passengers. What made this experience even more exceptional was that their peer, Khulud Halawani, a fellow student from CAAS currently completing her internship with gategroup, took charge of creating the winning dish during their visit to the First-Class Lounge. Khulud’s involvement added a personal and unique touch to the experience, allowing the winners to see their dish brought to life by someone from their own culinary academy. 

This rare opportunity to collaborate with a peer, while providing input on how to adapt their creation to meet the specific demands of high-end lounge dining, was invaluable. It gave the students not only the chance to see the behind-the-scenes operations of a world-class lounge but also to engage directly with large-scale food production. The hands-on experience offered them a deeper understanding of the culinary intricacies involved in working with one of the world’s leading airline catering brands, Uqonic, solidifying the connection between their culinary education and the professional world.

A culinary academy known for excellence

The Cook-N-Battle competition is yet another example of the school’s commitment to providing its students with real-world, high-stakes culinary experiences and competitions. CAAS, part of Swiss Education Group (SEG), is internationally recognized for its world-class culinary programs. It is the premiere culinary academy in Switzerland and is ranked as one of the top institutions in the field of hospitality and leisure by the QS World University Rankings 2024. It is the only culinary school to feature on this prestigious list, a prestigious validation of the quality of education and industry exposure that its students receive.

Competitions like Cook-N-Battle are not only designed to test students' abilities but also to prepare them for successful careers in the global culinary industry. Whether it’s collaborating with top-tier brands like gategroup and SWISS or developing menus for first-class lounges and Michelin star restaurants, CAAS ensures its students are ready to thrive in the competitive world of culinary arts.

The role of gategroup and Uqonic

The involvement of gategroup and its premium brand Uqonic in the Cook-N-Battle competition further elevated the event’s prestige. A global leader in airline catering and hospitality services, gategroup is a known for creating exceptional in-flight dining experiences. Uqonic, a sub-brand of gategroup, specializes in providing high-end hospitality experiences at airport lounges, making it a fitting partner for this competition.

As long-standing partner with SWISS International Air Lines, gategroup has consistently pushed the boundaries of what is possible in airline dining, and their collaboration on Cook-N-Battle is proof of their innovative spirit and quality. 

We are proud to work with SWISS and offer world-class culinary experiences to passengers. This competition allowed us to tap into the fresh ideas and talents of the next generation of chefs.

^{- Hubertus Henning, General Manager of Gate Group}

A lasting impact

As the Cook-N-Battle competition wrapped up on August 31st, it became clear that this event was about more than just winning a prize. For all the participants, it was a chance to put their skills to the test, learn from industry experts, and push the boundaries of their creativity. 

As the event continues to grow in the coming years, Cook-N-Battle will undoubtedly become a highlight of the CAAS annual calendar, providing students with an opportunity to shine and create dishes that will be remembered long after the competition ends.

For Madeleine Flekstad and Lara Kocagoncü, the winners of this year’s competition, the future looks bright as their dish is set to take off—quite literally—in the SWISS First Class Lounge at Zurich Airport.