S. Pellegrino Young Chef 2016 winner, Mitch Leinhard.
Applications open on February 1 for the third global S.Pellegrino Young Chef competition. The contest takes place over 18 months providing competitors with a range of opportunities to demonstrate and strengthen their skills while gaining valuable visibility.
The upcoming year will include preliminary selection rounds and local competitions, followed by the Grand Finale in June 2018., where finalists will compete for the S.Pellegrino Young Chef 2018 title. The extended duration of the competition allows candidates more time to work side by side with their assigned Chef mentors to improve their signature dishes and refine their skill sets in preparation for the finals.
Over the course of the contest, which attracted over 3000 applications last year, 70 chefs will be involvedas jurors in the local competitions; 21 young chefs from 21 different geographic areas will be selected as semifinalists and 21 Chef Mentors will be assigned individually to provide guidance through the competition.
A distinguished panel of judges, known as the Seven Sages will be responsible for deciding the winner at the finals to be held in Milan, Italy.
Winners of the title are presented wuth an extraordinary opportunity to gain global visibility and a significant professional boost, as well as the chance to take part in the brand’s annual events around the world.
“It is a great honour to be named S.Pellegrino Young Chef 2016,” said 2016 winner Mitch Lienhard from the United States. “The experience has proided many unforgettable moments so far and I am thankful for the impact the title will have in my career. I look forward to continuing my work with the ompany to help find the culinary worlds’ best new talent and serving as a mentor to future competitors.” Among previous winners is Ireland’s renowned chef, Mark Moriarty.
To broaden the range and accessibility of the talet scouting, a new region, “Central America – Carribean” has been added to the list of geographic regions. There are 21 regions and all candidates are required to understand and speak English, however applications are also accepted in Spanish, Mandarin, French and Italian.
