Xiangzhou District, Zhuhai

A lengthy ingredients list of 41 chefs donned their kitchen whites and topped their toque blanches to take part in a culinary skills competition held at the Holiday Resort Hotel in the southern Guangdong province city of Zhuhai on Sept 15.

Twenty-one western food gourmets and a score of Chinese pastry cooks whipped, whisked and won 65 entries to the final – all entrants, from 34 of Xiangzhou District's finest restaurants, having the potential of coming out on top of the cake, according to the organizer.

Each finalist was tasked with cook preparing the culinary classic cream of mushroom soup and noodles within a specified time limit. Each chef was given the freedom to prepare a steak dish and Chinese desserts in as creative way as they saw fit.

Zhu Quanwen who has a velvety depth of experience working the kitchens at the Holiday Resort Hotel took home first place for western food cook, with Liu Yongxiang from Xinhaili Restaurant in Gongbei Area claiming accolades for his sophisticated balance of textures and tastes.

A stand-out from Jida's Holiday Resort Hotel, Lu Yongguan, surprised and impressed judges with his lobster-shaped dumplings, the critics commenting on their almost lifelike in appearance. Lu’s secret lay in frying the paste instead of steaming it – which is the more popular option in Cantonese cooking.

This year's Craftsmen in Xiangzhou Competition has been open since August. Among the other events to be held focus on e-commerce, print consumables, office software operations, and electrical maintenance, the development of which is calling for more talents.  

Pastry cooks get rolling their dough before it is molded topped and baked at a skills contest held in Xiangzhou District on Sept 15.

Intricately-shaped dumplings, steamed buns and noodles win high praise from the contest's judging panel.

Visitors take snaps of the pro dishes to gain culinary inspiration. [Photos courtesy zh-job.com]