The Indian Culinary Forum, popularly known as ICF is an established Indian association of chefs. It was formed in New Delhi in 1987 as an exclusive non-profit association, dedicated solely for the advancement of culinary professionals in India. The Forum’s objective is to act as a link, platform, useful and necessary instrument for the national community of chefs. The Forum also awards bursaries to some competitors to enable them to travel abroad and receive work experience in high-class establishments. In addition to the professional competitions and events, the Forum also liaises with several other government agencies, including the Indian Department of Tourism and Commerce. The ICF is also recognized by the World Association of Chefs Societies (WACS) which is a global association of chefs, first founded in October 1928 at the Sorbonne in Paris. At that first congress there were 65 delegates from 17 countries, representing 36 national and international associations, and the venerable August Escoffier was named the first Honourary President of WACS. Today, this global body has 93 official chefs associations as members that represent over 10 million professional chefs world wide. WACS is managed by an elected presidential body consisting of the WACS president, vice president, treasurer, secretary general and ambassador honourary president, as well as a board of continenal directors that look after the regions of Asia, Europe, Africa, the Pacific and the Americas. Its programs and different activities are managed by three separate committees, the Culinary Competitions Committee, the Education Committee and the Marketing and Communication committee as well as several sub-committees.
