Young chefs across the UK have been invited to apply to the sixth edition of the S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Competition 2024-25, a global initiative aimed at discovering and mentoring promising culinary talent.
During the competition, participants will have experienced chefs help them bring their vision to the table, and equip them to take their culinary skills to the next level.
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 said: “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 application process is now open to chefs under 30 years of age across the UK. Entry begins by submitting the recipe of a signature dish that communicates their vision, skills and creativity.
As with previous editions, the first selection phase will be evaluated by ALMA, the International School of Italian Culinary Arts, which will define a shortlist of young chefs who will then participate in the Regional Finals taking 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 before a global Grand Jury – an esteemed panel of internationally renowned chefs. The last edition saw chef Nelson Freitas from Fifty Seconds restaurant in Lisbon triumph.
Sanpellegrino’s international business unit director Stefano Bolognese said: “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 – the S.Pellegrino Social Responsibility Award, voted for by the Sustainable Restaurant Association; the Acqua Panna Connection in Gastronomy Award, voted for by Mentors for the dish that represents the culinary heritage of the chef’s native region; and the Fine Dining Lovers Food for Thought Award: voted for by the online Fine Dining Lovers community, for the young chef who best represents their personal beliefs with a signature dish.
To learn more about the initiative visit: www.sanpellegrinoyoungchefacademy.com.
