UK judges announced for S.Pellegrino Young Chef competition

The search is on for the world’s best young chef. As part of the inaugural S.Pellegrino Young Chef competition, four of the UK and Ireland’s leading chefs will be looking for the young chef who will represent the UK and Ireland at the global final this June in Milan.

The four judges (who between them hold five Michelin Stars) are Clare Smyth MBE, Atul Kochhar, Daniel Doherty and Oliver Dunne. They will be selecting the winner from February’s UK and Ireland semi-final.

The ten semi-finalists will have to prepare and cook their very own signature dish, which will then be critiqued across five areas; ingredients, skill, genius, beauty and message.

Clare Smyth MBE, the first and so far only female British chef to hold and retain three Michelin stars, said: “This global S.Pellegrino initiative is one that has gained my full support. Gastronomic competitions like this allow the next generation of Michelin starred chefs to make their mark on the restaurant world and give them a chance to get noticed on a global platform. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perfect their skills and cook for some of the world’s best.”

Atul Kochhar was the world’s first Indian chef to receive a Michelin star. Daniel Doherty, a former ‘Rising Star Chef’ is the executive chef at the fine-dining London establishment, Duck & Waffle. While Dublin born Oliver Dunne is the youngest chef in Ireland to be awarded a Michelin Star.

In February, one talented UK or Irish Young Chef will cook their way into the hearts of the Jury, and embark on a once in a lifetime journey to Milan in June to compete in the global final for the inaugural title of S.Pellegrino Young Chef 2015.