Held as part of the Hotel, Restaurant & Catering (HRC) show at ExCeL London, Lee Kum Kee is sponsoring the Oriental Duck Culinary Showdown (LT16), a live cooking challenge in which 16 finalists will compete across two heats.

Competitors are each given 45 minutes to prepare a refined main course for two covers using a whole fresh duck suitable for a professional restaurant or pub environment.

Competitors must incorporate at least one of Lee Kum Kee’s signature products - Premium Oyster Sauce, Plum Sauce, or Chinese Style Honey BBQ Marinade (Char Siu Sauce) - demonstrating both technical skill and creative application of Asian flavours.

Ahead of the competition, Lee Kum Kee hosted a mentor day at their Taste Kitchen at the company’s European headquarters in London on Monday 23rd March. The session was designed to offer finalists the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the featured sauces and gain inspiration for their competition dishes.

The mentor day enabled finalists to explore flavour pairings, refine techniques, and experiment with sauces beyond their usual repertoire. Many chefs discovered new applications, with several drawn to Lee Kum Kee’s Char Siu Sauce for its balanced sweetness, glossy finish and aromatic spice profile compared to traditional Western BBQ flavours.

Maria Chong, managing director of Lee Kum Kee Europe, said: “The International Salon Culinaire is an incredible platform that celebrates culinary excellence and craftsmanship at the highest level. Through the Mentor Day, it was fantastic to see chefs not only refining their techniques but also discovering new ways to use our sauces beyond their usual applications.

“Products like oyster sauce remain a staple in many kitchens, but it was especially exciting to see the response to Char Siu Sauce as chefs explored new flavour profiles and menu ideas. We are now very much looking forward to seeing how each finalist interprets the brief and brings their duck dish to life.”

Lee Kum Kee’s involvement underscores its continued commitment to the foodservice industry, supporting chefs with high-quality products, culinary inspiration, and opportunities to innovate on the plate.