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Canadian-Bangladeshi chef Madiha Turshin has secured a place among the top five finalists in the Global Favorite Chef 2026 competition, marking a significant milestone in her rising international culinary career.
Presented by renowned American chef and television personality Carla Hall in support of the James Beard Foundation, the competition celebrates outstanding culinary talent from across the globe. Turshin’s advancement highlights growing global recognition of her distinctive approach, where cuisine becomes a fusion of heritage, ecology, and storytelling.
A graduate of the Le Cordon Bleu Grand Diplôme programme in Bangkok, Turshin blends classical French techniques with the rich culinary traditions of her Bangladeshi roots. Having lived in Bangladesh, Canada, and Thailand, she brings a unique diasporic perspective to her work—exploring how migration, memory, and cultural exchange shape and redefine traditional food.
Her culinary style moves beyond conventional presentation. Each dish is crafted as a “living landscape,” incorporating edible flowers, wild herbs, and seasonal botanicals not as mere garnishes but as essential elements that reflect biodiversity, culture, and the natural environment.
Deeply committed to sustainability, Turshin is also an avid forager. She sources ingredients directly from nature—whether gathering elderflowers in Toronto or discovering seasonal plants in different regions—treating the environment not just as a supplier, but as a creative collaborator.
Through her platform Yum Moments, she continues to redefine dining as an immersive experience, encouraging people to reconnect with nature through food. Her work celebrates seasonality, biodiversity, and cultural memory, positioning cuisine as a dialogue between art, ecology, and tradition.
Public voting for the competition remains open until July 9 at 7pm Pacific Daylight Time, offering supporters from Bangladesh, Canada, and beyond a chance to help Turshin advance to the Group Finals.
Each vote not only supports her journey but also amplifies a contemporary culinary vision that champions sustainability, cultural heritage, and the natural world on the global stage.