Russia's 2025 Best Chef Title Decided in Brutal 24-Hour Cook-Off

A 24-hour culinary marathon will decide Russia's Best Chef of 2025 by the end of December. The gruelling contest will feature 100 of the country's top chefs, all competing without sleep or food. The winner will take home a 5 million ruble prize.

Among the participants are Nikolai Atlasov and Yevgeny Alfan, both hailing from Yakutsk. Their inclusion highlights the diversity of culinary talent in the competition.

The national TV-broadcast event will push chefs to their limits. Over 24 hours, they must prepare dishes while enduring physical and mental strain. Judges will evaluate creativity, technique, and endurance before crowning the champion.

Nikolai Atlasov brings expertise in Yakut-Arctic cuisine to the contest. Earlier in 2026, he hosted a culinary show in central Yakutsk, promoting the film *Méhééléchéén Bulchut* by preparing traditional taiga soup. His participation now puts regional flavours in the national spotlight. Yevgeny Alfan, also from Yakutsk, specialises in a broader range of styles. His skills span French, Japanese, and Russian cooking, with a focus on northern regional dishes. The two chefs will compete against rivals from across Russia, each vying for the top title.

The marathon will conclude with a single chef earning the Best Chef of 2025 title. The 5 million ruble prize adds high stakes to the already intense challenge. Organisers expect the event to showcase both traditional and modern Russian gastronomy on a national stage.