S.Pellegrino Young Chef is an international culinary competition that nurtures the future of gastronomy by nesting, discovering and promoting the next generation of culinary talent.

Kayla-Ann-Osborn, chef at The Chefs’ Table Umhlanga and 2017 Eat Out Rising Star. Photo supplied.

From August to December 2019, talented young chefs from around the world will face the first round of competition in their regions to earn a place at the Grand Finale in Milan, held on 8 and 9 May 2020.

For the Africa and Middle East region, ten semi-finalists will be competing at South African Chefs Academy on 14 October 2019, with attendance from some of the biggest names in the world of gastronomy. Seven out of the ten young chefs are South African, with one each from Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Lebanon.

The Regional semi-finals are the first opportunity for the young chefs to connect with stakeholders that they may otherwise struggle to meet. The creation of these networks will help young talents to get an insight into what it takes to forge a career at the cutting edge of gastronomy.

Chef Paul Thinus Prinsloo of The Restaurant at Waterkloof, the 2018 Eat Out Restaurant of the Year. Photo supplied.

By the end of 2019, all of the Regional semi-finals will have taken place and the 12 Young Chefs from around the globe will be revealed as the official S.Pellegrino 2020 Young Chef finalists. To ensure the Young Chefs continue to be supported throughout the process, each finalist will be assigned a prestigious ‘Mentor Chef’, who will work with them on their signature dish, providing support and guidance throughout their preparation for the finale.

In addition to the S.Pellegrino Young Chef 2020 title, there are now three other awards, each recognising different personal beliefs of the participants: the Acqua Panna Award for Connection in Gastronomy is assigned by the Mentors; the S.Pellegrino Award for Social Responsibility is voted for by Food Made Good; and, finally, the Food for Thought Award is voted for by the online community of Fine Dining Lovers.

From Cavallie Estate is chef Logan Leisse, another one of the seven South African chefs. Photo supplied.

All the Regional Winners of these awards will  fly to Milan in 2020 to experience and compete in the incredible S.Pellegrino Young Chef 2020 Grand Finale.

To stay updated with announcements and news ahead of the Grand Finale in May 2020, you can visit the San Pellegrino and Fine Dining Lovers websites. Connect on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.