For the first time ever, Sanpellegrino is accepting applications from around the world for its most awaited Young Chef of the Year 2015 award.
Sandra Husseini Norberg, Middle East & Africa, Zone Director Sanpellegrino, said: “We are thrilled to have spread this competition to other regions of the world. We believe there is a huge amount of talent to be found in the latest generation of upcoming chefs, especially in the UAE, where numerous new F&B projects have been announced due to increased government initiatives coupled with the winning of global events such as the Dubai Expo 2020. As the industry continues to compete for the best talent to support the new developments, we know that early engagement with talented youth will go a long way to build & retain a competitive work force - a work force that will sustain the growth of the sector.”
Commenting, Chef Uwe Micheel, Director of Kitchens, Radisson Blu Hotel Dubai Deira Creek and President of The Emirates Culinary Guild, regional supporters of the award, said:“Competitions like this help to expose these young chefs to the industry, forcing them out of their comfort zone and pushing their skills and creative ideas onto a new platform. This is really important in growing our workforce and creating more awareness about choosing a career as a chef. It comes at an important time as the demand for skilled chefs is greater than ever across the region.”
The chefs need to be under 30 and working as professionals in a restaurant , either as chefs, sous chefs or chefs de partie, for at least one year. All young chefs can submit their application together with their signature dish on www.finedininglovers.com. The deadline for entries is December 15th 2014.
Sanpellegrino, the Italian brand of the finest sparkling natural mineral water, is exclusively distribuited by HORECA in the region.
From December 16th, the candidates will be divided in 20 regions according to the geographic area they are from. Thereafter ALMA, the world’s leading international educational and training centre for Italian Cuisine (www.alma.scuolacucina.it), will carefully go through the online applications to select the first 10 finalists for each region according to five Golden Rules: Ingredients, Skills, Genius, Beauty, Message.
Between January 16th and February 28th, the 10 finalists of each area will then compete at a local event: each region will have a jury composed by independent top chefs who will taste the signature dishes of the finalists and choose the best one. By the end of February, the 20 best local young chefs from each world’s region will be announced as the official finalists.
In March 2015 Vogue Italia will match the 20 chefs with 20 emerging stylists. The stylists will then ideate a fashion creation inspired by the signature dish of the chefs.
The culminating event of the project – the S.Pellegrino Talent Awards - will be held from June 25th-27th in Milan, where S.Pellegrino will be the official water of Expo Milano 2015 and of the entire Italian Pavillion. This will be the occasion to discover the signature dishes and fashion creations as a result of the competition, and to celebrate the best young chefs and stylists who competed.
An international jury of famous chefs will award the S.Pellegrino Young Chef 2015, while the cuisine and fashion lovers attending the final event will vote to assign Best Couple Chef Stylist 2015.
THE 20 REGIONS
- Italy
- France
- Germany-Austria
- Switzerland
- Spain-Portugal
- UK-Ireland
- Russia/Baltics/CIS (ex Soviet union)
- Scandinavia (Norway/Sweden/Finland/Denmark)
- East Europe
- BeNeLux
- Med Countries
- USA
- Canada
- Africa-Middle East
- Latin America - Caribbean
- Pacific (Australia/NZ/Pacific Islands)
- China
- Japan
- Central Asia
- Southern - East Asia
THE PHASES OF THE PROJECT
- FIRST PHASE: ONLINE APPLICATION - November 2014 - December 15th
All the young chefs of the world can submit their application together with their signature dish on www.finedininglovers.com. The chefs will have to be no older then 30 and working as a professionist in a restaurant as chef or sous chef or chef de partie since at least 1 year. All the requirements will be explained on the website.
- SECOND PHASE: GLOBAL SHORTLIST - December 16th - January 15th
All the candidates will be divided according to the geographic area they are from, there will be 20 regions*. Then ALMA, the world’s leading international educational and training centre for Italian Cuisine (www.alma.scuolacucina.it), will select through the online applications the first 10 finalists for each region according to five Golden Rules: ingredients, skills, genius, beauty, message.
- INGREDIENTS: Successfully selecting the best of what the market has to offer with regards to quality, freshness and uniqueness.
- SKILLS: Successfully handling and transforming raw materials into a finished dish that respects its original essence.
- GENIUS: Successfully exploring inedite, inspiring, unespected prospects/outlooks, connected with fine dining culture with a personal and contemporary style, while maintaining a perfect balance of tastes and shapes.
- BEAUTY: Dish presentation is part of the charm.
- MESSAGE: Successfully communicating a clear message through work and personal vision.
- THIRD PHASE: LOCAL CHALLENGES - January 16th - June 15th
January 16th - February 28th, the 10 finalists of each area will have to compete during a local event: each region will have a jury composed by at least independent famous chefs or representatives of the contemporary local gastronomy that will taste the signature dishes of the finalists and choose the best one, always according to the 5 Golden Rules. By the end of February the 20 best young chefs from all the regions of the initiative will be announced.
March 1st - March 31st, Vogue Italia will select 20 emerging young stylists: each of them will be associated to one of the best chefs and will have to interpret the signature dish with a fashion creation.
April 1st - June 15th, the finalist stylists will work on the interpretation of the chefs’ signature dish. Both the signature dish and fashion creation will be presented at the final event.
- LAST PHASE: S.PELLEGRINO TALENT AWARDS – June 25th - 27th
In June at the Italian Pavillion of EXPO in Milan, S.Pellegrino together with Vogue Italia will host the final event to celebrate the best young chefs and stylists who have competed. An international jury of famous chefs will award the S.Pellegrino Young Chef 2015 and the editorial staff of Vogue Italia will choose the most talented stylist, while the cuisine and fashion lovers attending the final event will vote to assign Best Couple Chef & Stylist 2015.
