The Chaine des Rotisseurs’ best Young Chef competition is happening again in March this year with the prize of representing New Zealand at the International Young Chef competition in Budapest, Hungary in October, up for the winner.
The Jeune Chef of the Year (Young Chef) is organised by the New Zealand Chapter of the Chaine des Rotisseurs, a French based international group which promotes the culinary arts, conviviality, and fellowship.
The chaine is inviting chefs who are under the age of 27 in October this year, and who have a proven track record in fine dining to take part, entering the competition by February 16.
“It is a demanding and challenging experience,” says the convenor of judges MacLean Fraser, who has represented New Zealand in several international competitions.
“In 2022 we had six outstanding competitors and Joshua Ross, the head chef at Bellamy’s, won that competition and was later placed third in the world at the international competition in Mexico City.”
The New Zealand competition will mirror the international black box format.
On the day competitors open a mystery box of ingredients from which they then have four hours to compose, prepare, cook and serve a three course meal. They are judged on the menu, use of ingredients, and the preparation and the composition and quality of the meal.
The 2024 New Zealand competition will be held at the Cordon Bleu School in Willis Street in Wellington on Saturday 16 March starting at 9am. A panel of six experienced chefs and qualified judges will mark the contestants. The winner will be announced at 5pm the same day at the Cordon Bleu School.
Remember the closing date for entries is Friday February 16.
Inquiries about the competition format should be directed to the head judge, MacLean Fraser, Conseiller Culinaire for the Chaine des Rotisseurs at maclean.fraser@alliance.co.nz
