Young Tunisian Chef Mayssa El Kouni Wins International Cooking Tournament
Mayssa El Kouni, a 24-year-old chef from Djerba, Tunisia, has won the top prize at the "International Young Chefs Cooking Tournament" from May 14 to 16, on the sidelines of the 16th International Economic Forum "Russia - Islamic World" (KazanForum) in Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan, Russia.
Among 16 competitors, Mayssa stood out by proposing a bold menu composed of three creations inspired by Tunisian cuisine: a revisited starter based on cured meats, a reimagined Sfaxian charmoula with chicken, dates, and hazelnut praline, and a tiramisu dessert infused with date cream and rose water flavors.
A graduate of the Academy of Chefs, Mayssa has been working for three years, first in a restaurant and then in a 4-star hotel in Sfax. In July 2024, she had already won first place in the national young talents competition at the Kram Fair, which opened the doors to the Kazan tournament. She also won the "Techniques of the Future" award, recognizing her ability to modernize Tunisian dishes inspired by French specialties.
Ambitious and passionate, Mayssa now dreams of opening her own restaurant in Tunis, which she has already named "L'Ozé".
