At Kitchen Knockout 2026, a special cooking competition hosted by Newsbeat Media India Group, Food Star, and Event Alcamist in collaboration with 91.9 Friends FM, the scent of innovation, the thrill of competition, and the delight of culinary artistry came together.

The event, which took place at the sophisticated Tiswa’s Kitchen, turned the space into a lively gathering place for foodies, aspiring chefs, business professionals, and notable visitors who were all brought together by their love of cooking.

Kitchen Knockout was created as a way to find and honor undiscovered culinary skills, especially among home cooks and foodies who have exceptional abilities but frequently don’t have the chance to show them off. In front of a panel of distinguished judges and guests, participants were able to showcase their inventiveness, self-assurance, and culinary prowess in a competitive yet supportive environment.

Each of the 22 competitors, who came from a variety of backgrounds, presented distinctive dishes that showcased not only their culinary prowess but also their creativity, cultural influences, and individual tales. Everyone was impressed by the caliber and variety of the contestants’ culinary presentations, which ranged from inventive appetizers and classic treats to fusion creations and delectable desserts. The event was a memorable celebration of food and talent because of the contestants’ enthusiastic participation and the guests’ strong support. Taste, originality, presentation, creativity, and overall execution were among the criteria used to evaluate each dish.

Speaking to the audience, Mrs. Ruma Das Sharma, Kitchen Knockout’s event curator and deputy editor of Food Star e-mag, expressed her delight at the tremendous response from attendees and supporters.

Chef Palak Chatterjee, Head Judge of Kitchen Knockout, expressed his opinions about the competition and commended the competitors for their commitment, creativity, and self-assurance.

The event was graced by eminent personalities from various fields, like Chef Palak Chatterjee, a renowned culinary expert and one of the judges of the competition, RJ Arijit, Dr. Mohammed Moinuddin Bin Maksud, Miss Angela Raha, CA Dilip Jhajaria, Mrs. Sushmita Chakraborty, Mrs. Sumita Banerjee, Advocate Bapi Bhattacharjee, Mr. Subhodeep Sinha Roy, Oindrila Santra, and Sonali Chanda.

The winners were:

Best Unique Dish: Poulome Pandey   

Best Presentation: Mithu Saha

Best Recipe: Misty Mitra

Best Dessert: Debarati Sarbadhikari 

Judges and guests praised the winners for their extraordinary inventiveness, meticulousness, and dedication to culinary perfection.

The event was supported by Monginis, Ashika Dance Class, Amar Anna, Saajo Shajao, Flick Entertainment, Maple, NM Music Lounge, DD Jhajaria, Bhattacharjee Law & Solicitors, Deep Group of Companies, Athithja Bangla, The Kolkata Mail, News Nation 360, News Today, BK News 24, News Bengal Online, Dainik Vishwamitra, Arthik Lipi, and Kolkata Vlogger. 

Everyone in attendance was left with a lasting impression by Kitchen Knockout as the day’s festivities, inventiveness, and flavor came to an end. Kitchen Knockout is poised to become one of Kolkata’s most anticipated culinary events, carrying on its mission of identifying, celebrating, and promoting culinary talent while bringing communities together through the universal language of food, thanks to its successful edition that laid a solid foundation.

Priyanka Dutta