An Inspiring Culinary Showdown Celebrating Creativity, Passion, and the Unexpected
Yogyakarta once again buzzed with culinary excitement as the Archipelago Black Box Battle 2025 made its much-anticipated return, transforming two stylish venues—Neo Malioboro Yogyakarta and Royal Malioboro by Aston—into thrilling arenas for creativity and flavor.
This signature competition brought together 15 hotels from across Yogyakarta, Solo, Semarang, and Rembang, each sending their best culinary artists—15 chefs and 14 F&B professionals—into battle. But this wasn’t just any competition. It was a test of innovation, adaptability, and flair, where the ingredients remained a secret until the very moment the challenge began. The “Black Box” format is a true celebration of instinct and inspiration.
More than just a contest, the event echoed the spirit of mentorship and growth. “This event is not just a competition but also a platform for learning and inspiration,” shared Winston Hanes, Senior VP of Operations at Archipelago. “It’s designed to help our teams refine their skills and master the art of improvisation in the kitchen.”
First Place Winner of the Beverage Battle – Andi Izzaudin Mahendra from The Alana Yogyakarta Hotel and Convention Center, and First Place Winner of the Food Battle – Domas Muhammad Pilar from favehotel Malioboro Yogykarta.
At Royal Malioboro by Aston, the Beverage Battle took center stage. F&B stars were tasked with crafting refreshing drinks using an unusual—but delightfully fragrant—combination of basil, jasmine tea, and kedondong. Meanwhile, at Neo Malioboro Yogyakarta, the chefs stepped up to the plate for the Food Battle, showcasing their culinary intuition with chicken, pumpkin, tamarind, and cinnamon—ingredients as surprising as they were challenging.
The judging panel, composed of top-tier experts including Yohanes Sulistiyono Hadi, Chef Denny Frederick, Denny S. Wasana, and Sari Kusumaningrum, scored each dish and drink meticulously—evaluating technique, creativity, taste, and presentation with an eye for international quality.
Beverage Battle Participants, Judges, Food Battle Participants.
