Fourteen Vietnamese students aged 10-12 showed off their cooking skills in the Aus-Viet Junior Chef Challenge contest on June 20.

The contest featured dishes of grilled beef and sugarcane lamb using premium Australian beef and lamb.
The young chefs worked in pairs to recreate dishes demonstrated by Sydney-based chef Nhut Huynh. They then shared their creations with their families and friends.

The taste and presentation of their dishes, as well as their teamwork and attitude in the kitchen, were the criteria used by the judges to award the winners.

The top seven chefs competed in the final event, where they each prepared “bun bo xao” (sauteed beef and rice noodle).

The winner of the competition, Mai Anh, a 10-year-old from District 7, said that she had learned a lot from the competition and enjoyed making new friends.

Australian Consul General John McAnulty told the children that he hoped they "had a lot of fun and learned new things, and will continue to enjoy cooking fresh, delicious food for your families and friends". 

The sponsors of the event, which is part of celebrations of the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and Vietnam, include SOS International healthcare, KOTO, InterContinental Asiana Saigon, Kumho Link, Classic Fine Foods, and Meat and Livestock Australia. -VNA