Kung Tung Senior Industrial Vocational School Student Peng You-Rui Wins Bronze at US Potato International Culinary Competition, Showcasing Rising Talent

(Central News Agency, Reporter Lu Tai-Cheng, Taitung County, 3rd) Peng You-Rui, a student in the Food and Beverage Technology Department at Kung Tung Senior Industrial Vocational School in Taitung, recently won a bronze medal at the US Potato International Culinary Competition. The school stated that Peng demonstrated the potential and determination of a young chef.

The 2026 US Potato International Culinary Competition was held from May 30 to 31 at National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism. The competition primarily aims to promote international culinary professional exchange and technical innovation, as well as to promote the diverse applications and innovative culinary uses of US potatoes, stimulating the creativity and practical abilities of culinary professionals and related students.

The event invited international professional lecturers to share the latest culinary trends and cooking techniques. Through the competition format, participants were encouraged to use innovative thinking to showcase the diverse aspects and market potential of potato dishes, further enhancing international culinary competitiveness and industry development. Peng You-Rui, a first-year student in the Food and Beverage Technology Department at the private Kung Tung Senior Industrial Vocational School in Taitung County, won the bronze medal in the Meat Cooking category.

Instructor Jiang Yue-Ying told Central News Agency today that the competition was very fierce, and it was no small feat for Peng to successfully complete the competition under immense pressure and win a bronze medal. She is proud of Peng's performance and believes this experience will be an important cornerstone for his future learning and growth.

Speaking through the school, Peng said the competition made him realize he still has much room for improvement and that he learned many valuable lessons. In the international competition, the judges had different perspectives on ingredient selection. For example, baby corn is a unique ingredient in Taiwan, and the judges suggested choosing vegetables of other colors to accompany the dish. This made him realize the importance of ingredient selection and pairing on the international stage.

Peng mentioned that regarding the handling of tomatoes, the judges pointed out that not peeling them could affect the texture, leading to minor point deductions. Additionally, due to time constraints during the competition, the puff pastry was not baked sufficiently, which is another area he needs to improve in the future. "The sauce selection was also relatively ordinary. In the future, I will try more diverse seasonings," he said.

Peng pointed out that besides the culinary competition, the organizers also held seminars, which he found very beneficial. He learned many methods for using potatoes and observed the techniques of chefs, deepening his understanding of the versatility of potatoes. He stated that this experience will motivate him to continue working hard in the future.

Kung Tung Senior Industrial Vocational School stated that Peng's bronze medal win showcases the potential and determination of a young chef. This competition was not only a technical challenge but also a journey of self-growth. The school looks forward to his continued success on his culinary path. (Editor: Chang Ya-Ching) 1150603