Congratulations to All the S.Pellegrino Young Chef Finalists 2018!

UPDATE 07/05/2018: Feel the action and the heat of the competition, follow the live streaming of the S.Pellegrino Young Chef Grand Finale at the S.Pellegrino site, S.Pellegrino's Facebook and YouTube channels!

UPDATE 05/02/2018: Discover the line-up of the Seven Sages, the top jury of world-class chefs who will crown the S.Pellegrino Young Chef 2018.

S.Pellegrino is excited to announce the names of the 21 young chef finalists selected to compete in the Grand Finale of S.Pellegrino Young Chef 2018.

21 of the world’s finest young chefs will continue on their amazing adventures in the global talent search to find the best young chef in the world.

Each of these handpicked young chefs has already cooked their way to victory in the demanding phase of the S.Pellegrino Local Competitions 2017, where they defeated nine other semi-finalists by wowing the judges with their chosen signature dishes.

These are the young chef finalists that will take their skills to the next level along with drive, determination, talent and vision to represent their regions and have their cooking skills judged by some of the world’s best chefs on an international platform.

The Young Chef and Mentor Role

The young chef finalists have each been assigned a professional chef mentor to guide, tutor, support and encourage them in the months leading up to the Grand Finale, allowing them to develop their skills in line with the challenge that lies ahead.
While the chefs will not be allowed to change the main ingredients in their signature dishes, they will be able to refine and perfect their recipes, technique, plating and presentation skills in order to best explain the story behind their dishes at the Grand Finale.

The Grand Finale

In May 2018 the 21 finalists from around the world will head to Milan, Italy accompanied by their chef mentors, where they will gather in preparation for the prestigious Grand Finale.
During a charged week of competition, friendships will be forged, invaluable personal and professional experiences had and memories made. Each of the young chefs will enjoy invaluable professional exposure at a local and international level.

In front of world class chefs, peers, friends, family, and the media, the young chefs will face off as they cook competitively to impress the Seven Sages. The panel of esteemed chef judges will select just one young chef to be crowned the best young chef in the world, taking the ultimate title of S.Pellegrino Young Chef 2018.

S.Pellegrino Young Chef 2018 Finalists

Who will walk in the footsteps of the previous winners, Ireland’s Mark Moriarty and the USA’s Mitch Lienhard?

See the 21 finalists below, find out where they are from and discover the signature dishes that saw them crowned the best chefs in their regions. Check back with us in the coming months, as we chat to each about how they are preparing for the Grand Finale.

Africa and Middle East

Chef Vusumuzi Ndlovu from the Marabi Jazz Club in Johannesburg, South Africa, will represent Africa and the Middle East with his duck signature dish entitled ‘Isicupho.’ Ndlovu will continue his journey with fellow Johannesburg resident and mentor chef Marthinus Ferreira from DW eleven-13 restaurant.

Read the interview with the winner Vusumuzi Ndlovu

Read the interview with mentor chef Marthinus Ferreira

Benelux

Frederic Chastro of Sōma's restaurant in Antwerp will represent Benelux with his winning dish of Belgian rabbit roll, offal and brain, with organic endives and a rich sauce based on dark beer. 'The Godfather of Belgian Cuisine,’ chef Peter Goossens, will guide him on his journey up to and including the Grand Finale. 

Read the interview with the winner Frederic Chastro

Read the interview with mentor chef Peter Goossens

Canada

Benjamin Mauroy-Langlais, chef de cuisine from Le Mousso in Montréal will represent Canada with his winning dish of smoked eel and celeriac entitled ‘Spring in Kamouraska.’ Chef Riccardo Bertolino from Maison Boulud, Montréal, will tutor him in the months leading up to the Grand Finale.

Read the interview with the winner Benjamin Mauroy-Langlais

Read the interview with mentor chef Riccardo Bertolino

Central America and Caribbean

Oscar Segundo, chef at Ajumú restaurant in Guadalajara, Jalisco will represent the region with his rabbit signature dish entitled ‘Barbacoa and ceniza inspired by the ‘barbacoa de hoyo’ cooking method, an ancestral process still practiced in Mexico. His chef mentor, Mikel Alonso,  from Biko restaurant in Mexico, will help him train for the Grand Finale over the coming months. Together they will perfect Segundo's dish and build his confidence ahead of the final challenge when he will face off against 20 other finalists with the hope of impressing the Seven Sages.

Read the interview with mentor chef Mikel Alonso

Read the interview with Oscar Segundo

China

Chanwai Poon will represent China at the Grand Finale in Milan next year. The chef from Aurora restaurant in Shanghai won the regional final with his signature dish entitled ‘Childhood’ – pan-seared red mullet with texture of beetroot and shellfish sauce. Chef Jacqueline Qiu, a trailblazer in the local food and beverage industry, will help him prepare him for the final competition.

Read the interview with mentor chef Jacqueline Qiu

Read the interview with the winner Chanwai Poon

East Europe

Marcin Popielarz, the chef from the White Rabbit restaurant in Gdansk, defeated nine other semi-finalists with his winning signature dish of ‘Smoked halibut with cucumber and dill.’ Chef Wojciech Modest Amaro, also from Poland, who owns restaurant Atelier Amaro, will be his ally in the challenge ahead.

Read the interview with the winner Marcin Popielarz

Read the interview with mentor chef Wojciech Modest Amaro

France

Antonio Buono, a chef at the two-Michelin-starred Mirazur restaurant in Menton, France, will have the opportunity to present his winning signature dish of Mediterranean scorpion fish, black rouille, rhubarb, wild celery and mountain flowers at the Grand Finale. Three-Michelin-star chef Frédéric Anton will be the official mentor of the young winner.

Read the interview with the winner Antonio Buono

Read the interview with mentor chef Frédéric Anton

Germany-Austria

German chef, Falko Weiss is the best chef in the Germany and Austria region with his signature dish of stewed pork belly, crawfish and tea time fond, entitled ‘City/Land/River.’ The young chef from restaurant à la Minute in Trier, Germany will henceforth have the benefit of advice and mentorship from Karlheinz Hauser up until the Grand Finale.

Read the interview with the winner Falko Weiss

Read the interview with mentor chef Karlheinz Hauser

Italy

Edoardo Fumagalli is the Italy finalist at S.Pellegrino Young Chef 2018 with his signature dish of ‘Carabinieri shrimp, frosted sweetbreads, crispy algae and aromatic salad.’ He will prepare for the Grand Finale together with two-Michelin-starred chef Anthony Genovese, from restaurant Il Pagliaccio in Rome.

Read the interview with the winner Edoardo Fumagalli

Read the interview with mentor chef Anthony Genovese

Japan

Yasuhiro Fujio from restaurant La Cime in Osaka emerged victorious in the Japan local competition with his signature dish ‘Across the Sea,’ featuring Japanese ‘Ayu’ fish. Fujio will be accompanied to Milan by chef mentor Luca Fantin, from Ginza Tower, the only Michelin-starred Italian chef In Tokyo and Japan.

Read the interview with mentor chef Luca Fantin

Read the interview with the winner Yasuhiro Fujio

Mediterranean Countries

Constadina Voulgari from Greece will cook for the Mediterranean Countries thanks to her winning sous vide signature partridge dish: ‘Ellinon Gefsis’ with mousseline pastinacas, wild root and salad. Greek Chef Nikos Roussos from two-Michelin-starred Funky Gourmet in Athens will be her mentor.

Read the interview with mentor chef Nikos Roussos

Read the interview with the winner Constadina Voulgari

North-East Asia

Zih-Yang Chen from Taiwan will represent North-East Asia at the Grand Finale. His dish showcases duck breast in ‘The Taste of Taiwan,’ with sweet potato, adlay, scallions, and other Taiwanese local ingredients. Celebrated Italian chef Umberto Bombana, who won the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants Diner’s Club®Lifetime Achievement Award 2017 and is based in Hong Kong, will be leading Zih-Yang Chen to the Grand Final as his assigned mentor.

Read the interview with mentor chef Umberto Bombana

Read the interview with the winner Zih-Yang Chen

Pacific

John Rivera, the Chef de Partie from restaurant Amaru in Armdale, Australia, will represent the region with his signature dish entitled ‘Sinigang’. Scott Pickett, chef and restaurateur from Estelle Bistro, ESP and Saint Crispin in Melbourne will help Rivera hone his skills for the Grand Finale.

Read the interview with the winner John Rivera

Read the interview with mentor chef Scott Pickett

Russia-CIS

Ruslan Evstigneev, chef at restaurant Pushkin in Kazan, is the best chef in the Russia-CIS region having impressed the local jury with his signature dish, ‘Horse, kumiss, and barley. A nomad approach for a dinner.’ He will now represent the region at the Grand Finale supported by mentor chef Andrey Shmakov from restaurant SAVVA and Metropol in Moscow.

Read the interview with mentor chef Andrey Shmakov

Read the interview with the winner Ruslan Evstigneev

Scandinavia-Baltics

Anton Husa, the chef at Upper House Dining in Gothenburg, Sweden will represent Scandinavia and Baltics at the Grand Finale with his dish of leek-coated cod, caramelised celeriac, stuffed onions and smoked dill emulsion, served with a roasted cod and leek foam, dried liken and watercress. Chef Henri Alén from Finland, co-owner of Restaurant Finnjävel, Muru, Pastis and Bystro, will mentor Anton in the coming months. 

Read the interview with the winner Anton Husa

Read the interview with mentor chef Henri Alén

 

South America

Elizabeth Puquio Landeo, Peruvian chef de partie at Ambrosía restaurant in Chile will present her ‘Pescado de la Costa’ or ‘Coastal Fish’ dish of marinated mackerel with squid ink mayonnaise, quenelle d’avocado and drops of lime gel to the Seven Sages at the Grand Finale. Chef mentor Rafael Osterling from Rafael (ranked 24 in Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2017 list), Mercado and Felix Brasserie restaurants in Lima (and Bogota, Colombia) will guide her on the journey ahead.

Read the interview with the winner Elizabeth Puquio Landeo

Read the interview with mentor chef Rafael Osterling

South-East Asia

Jake Kellie, representing Singapore, will compete for South-East Asia with his pigeon dish, which is aged in pepper leaves, hay and strawberry gum for two weeks. The head chef at Burnt Ends restaurant will be mentored by celebrated chef Richard Ekkebus of Amber restaurant at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental (Hong Kong).

Read the interview with South-East Asia mentor chef Richard Ekkebus

Read the interview with South-East Asia winner Jake Kellie

Spain-Portugal

David Andrés is the regional winner for a third consecutive year. The sous chef from ABaC Restaurant in Barcelona, Spain wowed the judges once again, with a new dish entitled ‘Making the most of blue fin tuna.’ Chef Oriol Castro of Disfrutar, Barcelona will now serve as Andres’ mentor guiding him up to the Grand Finale.

Read the interview with Spain-Portugal mentor chef Oriol Castro

Read the interview with Spain & Portugal winner David Andrés

Switzerland

David Wälti from Eisblume restaurant in Worb will represent Switzerland with his signature dish of head to tail from Swiss mountain salmon trout with vegetables. His mentor will be the celebrated Swiss chef and returning mentor, André Jaeger, helping him to optimise his performance ahead of Milan. 

Read the interview with the winner David Wälti

USA

John Taube IV, sous chef from The NoMad Hotel, New York, will represent the USA with his signature dish of ‘Squab and a Beet.’ His mentor is chef Gavin Kaysen, owner of the Spoon and Stable Restaurant in Minneapolis. The duo will want to impress, as much as last year’s winner and fellow countryman Mitch Lienhard.

Read the interview with the winner John Taube IV

Read the interview with mentor chef Gavin Kaysen

UK & Ireland

Killian Crowley, the chef de partie from terroir driven Aniar restaurant in Galway, Ireland will represent the UK & Ireland in the ultimate global challenge. His mentor Alyn Williams will help him to fine tune his turbot, kohlrabi and sea purslane dish over the coming months, before facing up to the final judgement at the Grand Finale in Milan 2018.

Read the interview with the winner Killian Crowley