Forget controllers and virtual worlds – a different kind of competition recently took the stage in Bangkok! As a vibrant part of gamescom asia x Thailand Game Show 2025, game publishers traded their typical tools for spatulas and whisks during the very first Charity Cook-Off, held on October 13th.
Ten brave contestants from across the game industry showcased their culinary talents, all under the watchful, and undoubtedly fiery, eye of celebrity Chef Willment Leong, famously known for hosting Hell’s Kitchen Thailand. Talk about high-pressure cooking!
This exciting event wasn’t just about culinary bragging rights; it was held to support two fantastic causes: the internationally recognized Doctors Without Borders and the local Bangkok Community Help Foundation.
Full disclosure: I, Daniel Robson, representing IGN Japan, was among the courageous chefs! The heat was on as I strived to recreate Chef Willment’s signature dish: salmon confit with a unique Thai green curry cream sauce, a crispy chicken skin crust, handmade aioli, poached egg, and a fresh rocket salad. To earn extra points, I infused my dish with a playful video game theme, decorating it with adorable edible Pokémon and a vibrant Mario-inspired salad.
The culinary battlefield saw a diverse group of contestants:
- Adorapixel – Gordon Van Dyke
- Powell Group – Jay Powell
- Raw Fury – Johan Toresson
- Miniclip – Govind Cacciatore
- Wired Production – Leo Zullo
- Joystick Venture – Ivan Carrillo
- IGN – Daniel Robson
- PlayPark – Jham (Sattra Viriyacharoentham)
- AGP – Lili Zang
- Poki – Romy Halfweeg
The Charity Cook-Off was expertly organized by gaming investment company Agora Gaming Partners and gamescom asia organizer Koelnmesse. It all took place in the state-of-the-art kitchens of Dusit Thani College, a venue familiar to fans of popular cooking shows like Netflix’s The Maverick Academy. The college even provided incredible volunteer assistants – a huge shout-out to my assistant, Tia, who was instrumental in ensuring I didn’t set off any fire alarms or lose any fingers!
For those of us in game media, we’re usually the ones evaluating the creative output of game companies. It was a unique and thrilling reversal to be on the receiving end, with judges scrutinizing my cooking! Whipping up a dish under intense pressure, with cameras all around and a strict time limit in an unfamiliar kitchen, was an unforgettable experience. While I didn’t take home the grand prize (my salmon was, admittedly, a touch undercooked), I managed to avoid any catastrophic culinary disasters. I was particularly proud of my green curry cream sauce, a recipe I’m determined to perfect at home!
A highlight video will be released soon, offering a glimpse into all the kitchen action. You can also look out for the full livestream archive for a complete recap of the event.
