Nagaland: Lebinuo Medoze Sano wins 12th edition of Naga Chef

Lebinuo Medoze Sano emerged as the winner of the 12th edition of Naga Chef, held at the Kisama Heritage Village and organised by the Tourism Department in partnership with Synergy Group Enterprise. The grand finale, hosted at the Legislative Park, drew food enthusiasts, cultural supporters and top culinary talent from across Nagaland.
Sano took home the winner’s cash prize of ₹3,00,000, while the other finalists received ₹25,000 each.
The competition culminated in the high-stakes “My Naga Thali” challenge, where the four finalists—Hamngam, Moalong Imchen, Sentipokla Jamir and Sano—were required to prepare a complete traditional Naga meal within 75 minutes. Each thali had to include a main non-vegetarian dish, a main vegetarian dish, a side dish, a gravy, a chutney, a hot beverage and a dessert.
Earlier, contestants competed in a tense Mystery Basket Challenge, where five participants drew lots for two mandatory ingredients. One contestant was eliminated in this round, paving the way for the final four.
Chief Minister Dr. Neiphiu Rio served as the chief patron of the competition, which showcased the richness of Naga culinary traditions and the growing platform for local gastronomic talent.
The final dishes were judged by a panel comprising Nuneseno Chase, Lori Khing and Rovi Chase.