Madiun, November 2024 – Creativity and culinary skills were the main focus of the Black Box Cooking Challenge 2024, the first cooking competition in Madiun with a unique concept—mystery ingredients. Participants were challenged to create dishes using ingredients that were revealed only moments before the competition began, making the event exciting and full of surprises. The event took place on Saturday, November 30, 2024, at Kedaton Garden, 3rd Floor, hosted by Aston Madiun Hotel & Conference Center and favehotel Madiun.

"Through the 'Black Box Cooking Challenge,' we wanted to present a different competition while providing a platform for young talents to showcase their creativity in the culinary field. We hoped this event would inspire and give valuable experience to participants, especially vocational school students, to continue developing their potential," said Danie R. Lapod, General Manager of Aston Madiun Hotel & Conference Center and favehotel Madiun.

The competition was lively, with dozens of participants from vocational schools, hospitality schools, and the general public from the Madiun Residency. The competition not only tested cooking skills but also challenged participants to think quickly and creatively in making impressive dishes using the mystery ingredients. Each team had 60 minutes to prepare a dish using the black box ingredients.

Photo: The Excitement of Black Box Cooking Challenge at Kedaton Garden Aston Madiun

Besides cooking and teamwork, the event also educated participants about the importance of innovation and efficiency in the culinary industry. The organizers hoped this competition would leave a positive impact on the local culinary scene while strengthening the hospitality sector's role in supporting education and young talent development. With this new and exciting concept, they expected similar events to continue, contributing to creativity and culinary innovation in Madiun and beyond.