The world's biggest competition for professional chefs, the 22nd international cuisine exhibition (IKA) was again a complete success in 2008. Around 1600 chefs from more than 50 countries took part in the world's biggest competition for professional chefs. More than 23,000 visitors and 350 international media representatives in total followed the six-day cooking show live. For the third time in a row Erfurt was the venue for the IKA/Culinary Olympics. The exhibition halls were changed into gourmet restaurants and buffet presentation temples and provided a stage to more than 300 exhibitors from all branch-specific areas of industry. The visitors were able to witness the preparation of the demanding, several course meals close up and watch over the shoulders of professionals from all over the world.
The Norwegians were the Culinary Olympic winners in 2008. The German national team took silver, placing ahead of Sweden, who were defending their title. The German young national team took gold in their competition category whilst the German military cooking team secured the bronze.

Cuisine in figures

• 880 three course meals were served every day in the restaurant of nations alone
  
• 1,855 was the number of seats in restaurants at the trade fair
  
• 180 service personnel served the guests
  
• 19,500 plates of food were served