A grand red carpet welcome was accorded to Worldchefs Vice President Dr. Rick Stephen and Mel Nathan, Founder of the Executive Chefs Club Australia and Publisher of Food Companion International Magazine, at COTHM and the Chocolate Academy.

CEO COTHM Ahmad Shafiq and COO COTHM Zaheer Ahmad warmly received the distinguished guests. Chef Mohammad Raees, Executive Chef at Blossom Hotel, Houston, USA, also joined the guests on this special occasion.

During the visit, both guests met COTHM students, who showcased their culinary talents through live demonstrations and skill presentations. Dr. Rick Stephen and Mel Nathan appreciated the creativity, professionalism, and dedication of the young chefs, encouraging them to pursue excellence at global culinary standards.

Following this, the guests explored the Chocolate Academy, where they met CEO Zanib Shafiq. Both dignitaries highly praised her vision and commitment to providing world-class training in chocolate craftsmanship and specialized culinary education.

Later, CEO Ahmad Shafiq, Chef Mohammad Raees (Executive Chef, Blossom Hotel Houston, USA), Dr. Rick Stephen (Vice President, Worldchefs), and Mel Nathan (Founder, Executive Chefs Club Australia & Publisher of Food Companion International Magazine) held a joint sitting, where they exchanged ideas on strategies to enhance the culinary and hospitality sector in Pakistan. The discussion emphasized the importance of international exposure, advanced training programs, and industry–academia collaboration to equip Pakistani chefs with globally competitive skills.

Both guests highly praised the efforts of the Chefs’ Association of Pakistan (CAP) and COTHM for their continuous dedication to uplifting the culinary and hospitality industry in Pakistan. They admired the institutions’ commitment to developing skilled professionals, fostering international collaborations, and raising the country’s profile in the global gastronomy arena.