Sikkim team emerges top in culinary competition

: Participants from the Institute of Hotel Management, Gangtok, bagged the first prize in the national culinary competition organised by the Spices Board and International Pepper Community.
Lhaden and Wangmu Bhutia of IHM Gangtok lifted the prize comprising Rs.50,000, a trophy and certificate at the competition that concluded at Kovlam beach resort here today.
The competition, "Pepp It Up 2014", attracted teams from 20 hotel management institutions across the country, a Spices Board release said.
Kartik Malviya and Shubhadev of IHM Bhopal came second winning Rs.25,000, while D Suresh Krishna and S Muthupandian of PSG College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore, won the third prize (Rs. 15,000).

"The history of commerce and trade in our country is the history of Pepper... However,with the advent of time, the charm of Pepper as the flag-bearer of Indian culture has started deteriorating," the release said.
Spices Board in collaboration with the International Pepper Community conducted 'Pepp it up-2014', to promote the usage of pepper and to inspire promising culinary talents, A Jayathilak, Chairman, Spices Board, said.