- Applications for the S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy 2024-25 are now open
- UK chefs aged under 30 have until 19th June to apply
- Prestigious culinary competition encourages young talent to ‘bring their best to the table’ and will shine a spotlight on the best global culinary talents of the future
- Winner of the UK Regional Final will go on to compete in the Global Finale, with the overall winner being crowned the ‘Best Young Chef in the World’
LONDON 28th February 2024: Young chefs across the UK are now able to apply to the sixth edition of the S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Competition 2024-25, an exciting global initiative created by S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy to discover and mentor the most promising and talented young chefs from all over the world.
The S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Competition is much more than a culinary contest. It will provide successful applications from the UK – and all over the globe – with the opportunity to join the longstanding, ambitious S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy project, which aims to make the world a better place through food; giving young culinary talent a unique opportunity to join an international community that empowers through education, mentoring, networking and career development opportunities.
During the competition, participants will be mentored closely by renowned chefs who will help them bring their vision for the future of gastronomy to the table, as well as equip them to take their culinary skills to the next level and bring their best to the table.
Last year’s UK finalist, Marcus Clayton, went on to be mentored by Michelin-star Chef, Lisa Goodwin-Allen, Executive Chef at Northcote during last year’s Grand Finale in Milan. Commenting on her experience, Goodwin-Allen says: “Mentoring Marcus Clayton at last year’s S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Grand Finale was an unforgettable experience. I’ve been fortunate to see first-hand how the competition benefits culinary talent of the future and would recommend the process to any inspiring young chef looking to develop their skillset. S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy is a unique opportunity for upcoming culinary talent to learn from leading names in the industry, helping nurture their career and inspire them to bring their best to the table.”
The S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Competition 2024-25 will welcome young chefs who wish to challenge themselves and their abilities while gaining global recognition. From 21st February, young chefs across the UK under 30 years of age will have the chance to register on https://www.sanpellegrinoyoungchefacademy.com/the-competition/application-form until 19th June 2024 by submitting the recipe of a signature dish that communicates their vision, unique skills and creativity. As with previous editions, the first selection phase will be evaluated by ALMA, the International School of Italian Culinary Arts. ALMA will define a shortlist of young chefs who will participate in the Regional Finals that will take place across the world through the second half of 2024.
The winner of the UK Regional Finale will go on to compete at the Grand Finale event to win the S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Award 2024-25. To win the title, the chefs must impress the global Grand Jury – an esteemed panel of internationally renowned chefs – by demonstrating unrivalled technical abilities as well as true creativity. The winner will also display a strong personal belief regarding gastronomy, to convince the Jury of their ability to become a catalyst for positive change. The last edition saw chef Nelson Freitas from Fifty Seconds restaurant in Lisbon triumph, emerging as the best chef in the world under 30 years of age.
Stefano Bolognese, Sanpellegrino’s International Business Unit Director comments: “The S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy is a global community that was born to convey S.Pellegrino’s commitment to shape the future of gastronomy by investing in values such as sustainability, responsibility, inclusivity, resilience and beauty, and the Competition is the main access to it. The last edition marked a record in participation with over 166 chefs passing the preliminary selections amongst the 15 regions involved. Seeing so many young talents willing to bring their best through hard work and passion, and to see them join our mission makes us proud. This makes us believe even more in this project and we can’t wait for the new edition to start.”
During the Competition, applicants will also compete for three additional awards which will recognise each young chef’s varied beliefs and approaches to creating positive societal change through food:
- S.Pellegrino Social Responsibility Award: voted for by the Sustainable Restaurant Association, which runs Food Made Good, the largest foodservice sustainability program and global community for driving sustainability in hospitality, the winning dish will represent the principle that food is at its best when it’s the result of socially responsible practices, encompassing sourcing, social and environmental requirements.
- Acqua Panna Connection in Gastronomy Award: voted for by Mentors, the winner of this award will produce a dish that represents the culinary heritage of the chef’s native region. The dish should highlight traditional culinary practices and personal modern vision, providing a connection between the past and the future.
- Fine Dining Lovers Food for Thought Award: voted for by the online Fine Dining Lovers community, this award will be for the young chef who best represents their personal beliefs with a signature dish.
To learn more about the initiative please visit: www.sanpellegrinoyoungchefacademy.com.
