S.Pellegrino Young Chef: the new edition is coming soon!

UPDATE 14/05/2018: The wait is over - the winner of S.Pellegrino Young Chef has finally been crowned! Discover which rising star took home the honour of winning S.Pellegrino Young Chef 2018 and watch all the young chefs of the competition in the 4 live streaming episodes covering the S.Pellegrino Young Chef 2018 Grand Finale: a true display of extraordinary passion, skill and determination of the new talents in the world of gastronomy.

UPDATE 29/11/2017: All the S.Pellegrino Young Chef Local Finals are now completed and all the 21 finalists have been selected. Find out more about the finalists, look at their signature dishes and follow the interviews with their mentor chefs.

It’s back! S.Pellegrino is proud to announce the return of S.Pellegrino Young Chef, the most exciting global talent search for the best young chef in the world.

Last year’s spectacular second edition saw over 3,000 professional young chefs apply from around the globe, with the USA’s ecstatic Mitch Lienhard taking the coveted title from the inaugural charismatic Young Chef winner, Mark Moriarty.

Some exciting changes

This new edition, which launches today, has some exciting changes. For the first time the global competition, which is open to all chefs, sous chefs, chefs de partie and commis under 30, will allow applications in different languages, including:

• Mandarin (Only for China full registration can be sent in Chinese Mandarin to: sanpellegrinoYoungChefChina@waters.nestle.com)
• Spanish
• French and
• Italian

English will remain the official language throughout the competition and for the Grand Finale.

A new dedicated region for Central America and the Caribbean

This edition will also be spaced over 18 months instead of 12. In 2017 the focus will be on regional qualification, with the shortlisted chefs competing at the S.Pellegrino Young Chef Local Competitions in front of top local chef juries, in different geographical areas around the world. This year, following a high level of local interest, there will be a new dedicated region for Central America and the Caribbean making the total number of regions 21 instead of 20.

In 2018 the 21 regional winners will go on to compete in the Grand Finale in Italy where they will cook for a panel of the world’s best chefs in order to be crowned S.Pellegrino Young Chef 2018.

HOW TO ENTER THE COMPETITION 

Candidates will be divided into 21 geographical regions, depending on the location of their restaurant, and applications will be evaluated by ALMA, Italy's International School of gourmet cooking. Selection for the regional finals will be based on the following five factors: 

• ingredients
• skills
• genius
• beauty and
• message

Online applications for this edition open on 1 February 2017. So start perfecting your signature dish now and make sure to check your eligibility and the updated competition rules.

In the meantime, we invite you to sit back and get a taste of what’s to come, as we re-live a few of the spectacular moments from last year’s competition.

It’s time to realise your culinary dreams: the next S.Pellegrino Young Chef is coming. Will it be you?

And make sure to follow all the action on our social channels using #SPYoungChef.