Extraordinary culinary mastery and rising talents that shine on the global gastronomy stage

The Apurva Kempinski Bali has reaffirmed its status as one of the region’s leading resorts after securing four prestigious awards at the 2025 Asia-Pacific culinary and beverage competitions. These accomplishments highlight not only the excellence of its services but also the strength of the talents that are consistently nurtured within the resort.

In the dynamic environment of the resort’s kitchen, I Wayan Nara Iswara stood out at the Young Talents Escoffier Asia Pacific 2025 on October 21, 2025, in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The young chef showcased a refined menu featuring duck ballotine with turnips, an autumn-themed bicolor flan, and pommes dauphines served with a rich jus. His reinterpretation of classic French haute cuisine using local Vietnamese ingredients impressed the judges and earned him a distinguished award. This achievement follows the success of the previous year, when I Kadek Sumiarta secured third place at the global finals in Paris.

In the sommelier arena, Putu Egi Krisnawan from Koral Restaurant brought pride to Indonesia by winning first place at the Indonesia Best Sommelier Competition 2025 on October 20, 2025. His composed presentation style, deep understanding of wine profiles, and ability to convey the stories behind each bottle set him apart. This victory grants him the honor of representing Indonesia in both the APAC and world-level ASI competitions. His teammate, I Kadek Widiarta from Reef Beach Club, also showed impressive consistency by securing second place for the second year in a row.

The resort’s list of achievements continued to grow with the success of I Wayan Edi Arista at the Campari Red Hands APAC 2025 held in Bali. Edi earned the title of Second Runner-Up with his signature cocktail “Pusaka Americano,” inspired by Majapahit heritage and aligned with the resort’s “Powerful Indonesia to the World” campaign. The multisensory elements woven into his creation made the cocktail stand out among entries from top bartenders across Asia.

These accolades reflect the resort’s commitment to building a world-class talent development center. The young competitors received direct mentorship from renowned culinary experts such as Chef Jean-Yves Leuranguer (Meilleur Ouvrier de France), Chef Yoan Mathy, and Chef Ho Weng Kit, establishing training pathways that uphold global standards.

The momentum of these victories aligns with the upcoming opening of The Apurva Kempinski Bali’s ninth restaurant, a new Teppanyaki dining concept that will enhance its already diverse culinary offerings, which include Koral, Izakaya by OKU, and Bai Yun. With achievements that continue to flourish, the resort demonstrates that true excellence is driven by dedication, creativity, and long-term talent development.

photo source: instagram.com/kempinskibali

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