Chef Juna and Rieta Amalia as Judges, Chef Expo 2026 Presents Rijsttafel Competition to Black Box Challenge

JAKARTA - Good news for culinary lovers and actors in the catering industry in the country. The Indonesian Chef Association (ICA) is preparing to hold the most prestigious annual event, Chef Expo 2026.

Entering the 7th implementation since it was first held in 2018, this event will appear on a larger scale and in a more prestigious location.

This year, Chef Expo 2026 moved to a new venue, namely the Nusantara International Convention Exhibition (NICE) in the area of Pantai Indah Kapuk (PIK) 2.

The exhibition, which collaborates with the organizers of IISM and Food & Beverage Indonesia, is scheduled to take place for four days, from May 6 to 9, 2026.

Senior Project Manager of PT Wakeni, Carolyn Khoe, said that the selection of the new venue is expected to provide a more exclusive atmosphere for visitors.

"Chef Expo 2026 will be present at a new, more prestigious venue to become a meeting center for various MICE industry players in the elite PIK 2 area," he said in the South Jakarta area, Thursday, April 30.

One of the main attractions that the public always looks forward to is the presence of celebrity chefs. Big names such as Chef Juna, Chef Chandra Yudasswara, to the legendary figure "Mother" Sisca Soewitomo are confirmed to enliven the Chef Expo 2026 stage.

Not to forget, a number of other culinary experts such as Chef Axhiang, Chef Mutho, Chef Yongki Gunawan, to Mama Rieta and alumni of MasterChef Indonesia will also share their knowledge through cooking demonstrations.

Chef Juna, who is one of the icons of this event, is scheduled to appear on Saturday, May 9, 2026. In addition to demonstrating his cooking skills, he will also be appointed as a judge in the most challenging competition, the Black Box Challenge, along with Chef Ragil and other professional judges.

Apart from the entertainment aspect, Chef Expo 2026 still carries a serious mission in preserving the culinary wealth of Nusantara. ICA President, Chef Santo, emphasized that this commitment is their main motivation to continue to consistently hold this event every year.

"The commitment to continue to preserve Indonesian cuisine is a strong motivation for ICA to continue to hold the Chef Expo from year to year," said Chef Santo.

This year, the competition presented is even more diverse. Starting from the Indonesian Main Course (red meat and seafood) category, Modern Plated Dessert, Cake Decoration, to Fruit Carving.

Interestingly, there is a new category, namely the Rijsttafel competition which will be judged directly by an experienced international jury, Chef Henry Alexie Bloem.

The event, which is targeted to be able to attract 35,000 visitors, is planned to be opened directly by the Minister of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia, Widiyanti Putri Wardhana. As a closing event, the Chairman of the DKI Jakarta KADIN, Hj. Diana Dewi, is scheduled to attend to hand over prizes to the competition winners.

As a form of respect for industry players, Chef Expo 2026 will also present the Indonesia Culinary Award. This award is given to the Chef of the Year category and Lifetime Achievement Award for individuals who are considered to have made extraordinary contributions to the development of the culinary world in Indonesia.