Eric Neo

SHOWCASE FOR CULINARY SKILLS
YCO is a great concept where students from different institutes representing different countries can showcase their culinary skills and make new friends. I was invited as part of the judging panel in 2016.

PASSION & INSPIRATION
My biggest learning was the passion that Dr. Suborno (Bose) has to make this happen! To organise a global event is no easy task and the team he has is great too. Students also can see the different skills applied by their colleagues and gain in-spiration by attending.

JUDGES’ CALL
Most importantly how the students are working at their stations, the plating and the taste.

YCO — BIGGER & BETTER
It already is quite a big-scale event, as it moves between cities. If it could be held in the capital and the event held in a ma-jor convention space it would be able to attract more awareness.

Turned chef at : 16

Currently : Executive Chef of InterContinental Singapore, Eric oversees the hotel’s culinary operations and menus of its restaurants and bars, namely Olive Tree, Man Fu Yuan, Lobby Lounge and Victoria Bar, as well as the banqueting department.

Titles : Vice-President of the prestigious Singapore Chefs Association, sits on the Culinary Committee of Chaine Des Rotisseurs Singapore, and is the F&B Sector Ambassador for the Singapore Workforce Development Agency.

Past experience : Executive sous chef of Marina Mandarin Singapore in 2006, Executive Chef at Crowne Plaza Changi Airport in 2008.

TV shows : Guest chef on popular local TV food programmes in Singapore such as Koji Cooks and Wok Stars.