Following the global success of its first edition with more than 3,000 applications submitted, S.Pellegrino - an ambassador of Italian taste and fine dining around the globe - is proud to launch S.Pellegrino Young Chef 2016; an international project dedicated to finding the best young chef in the world.Dividing the world into 20 regions and involving around 100 top chefs as jurors, 20 young chef finalists, 20 chef mentors and a stellar chefs jury, the unique initiative reflects S.Pellegrino’s commitment to supporting emerging talents.
Young Chef and global winner of the 2015 competition representing the UK & Ireland, Mark Moriarty, commented: “I was delighted and honoured to be named S.Pellegrino Young Chef 2015. The journey was an unforgettable, one off experience that I will always remember. I met so many fantastic chefs along the way and the title has made an incredible difference to my career as a whole”.
S.Pellegrino Young Chef 2016 will feature a new panel of judges, known as the Seven Sages, who will be responsible for crowning the most talented young chef in the world. Composed of some of the world’s most renowned culinary masters, the jury includes David Higgs, Carlo Cracco, Gaggan Anand, Elena Arzak, Mauro Colagreco, Wylie Dufresne and Roberta Sudbrack.
S.Pellegrino Young Chef is a global competition, split into three phases:
Phase One - Online Application
From 1st January until 31st March 2016, all young chefs across the globe will have the opportunity to submit their application together with their signature dish, in English, via www.finedininglovers.com - the online magazine for food enthusiasts proudly endorsed by S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna. Young chefs must be no older than 30 and are required to have at least one year’s experience working in a restaurant as chefs, sous chefs or chefs de partie.
Phase Two – Selection of Regional Shortlist and Regional Winner
All candidates will be divided into 20 regions* (according to their geographic origin) and their applications will be assessed by ALMA, the world’s leading international training centre for Italian Cuisine. Throughout the month of April, ALMA will select the ten finalists for each region following five Golden Rules: ingredients, skills, genius, beauty and message.
Phase Three - Regional Finals
The selected ten finalists for each market will move on to the Local Finals, where live competitions will be held locally in each region from 1st May until 15th August. During these events, the area finalists will have to cook their signature dishes for an exclusive regional jury composed of independent top chefs, who will taste the dishes and select the winner, following the five Golden Rules. The 2016 UK & Ireland judging panel includes fantastic chefs, such as Claude Bosi, Ollie Dabbous, JP McMahon and Ross Lewis.
By the end of August 2016, the 20 Best Regional Young Chefs from each world region will be announced as the official finalists. Each finalist will be assigned a Mentor Chef: a member of the regional jury, who will provide the young chefs with suggestions to improve their signature dishes and to help them prepare for the global finals. The UK & Ireland mentor chef will be two Michelin starred chef and owner of Hibiscus, Claude Bosi.
Phase Four – Grand Finale Event
On 13th October 2016, all Young Chef finalists will gather in Milan for the final phase, which will consist of a two-days intense cooking competition in front of the international panel of judges, the Seven Sages, that will award the S.Pellegrino Young Chef 2016.
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