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The S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Competition 2024-25, a global initiative created by S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy to discover and mentor young chefs, has announced five Australian judges.

The jury of judges for the Pacific Regional Final, tasked with declaring the regional winner, include Josh Niland (Saint Peters, NSW), Brigitte Hafner (Tedesca Osteria, VIC), Rosheen Kaul (Etta, VIC), Jake Kellie (arkhé, SA) and Brent Savage (Bentley Group, NSW).

During the Regional Final, Jury members will evaluate the signature dishes according to three Golden Rules, for each of which will be assigned a score between one and 10:

• Technical skills:Technical skills and competences during all phases of processing the chosen raw materials (raw material selection, raw material processing, cooking techniques, recipe)
• Creativity:Ability to synthesize one’s cooking philosophy within a recipe. Ability to define one’s experience, knowledge and professional skills in a distinct and innovative manner, as well as to explore new, stimulating, innovative perspectives with a personal and contemporary style, maintaining a perfect balance between taste and appearance.
• Personal belief: Ability to communicate one’s ‘creed,’ one’s vision of the world and cuisine, in a clear message. A message that is conveyed through the creation of a dish that is nothing other than the expression of convictions, visions, experiences and technical skills that have led to the creation of the Young Chef’s concept of identity and values in cooking.

Rosheen Kaul, author, food personality and head chef of Etta said “it is a true privilege and highlight of my career to serve as a juror for the Pacific region for the prestigious SPYCA competition.”

Brent Savage, co-owner of Bentley Group in NSW is “very excited to be involved with the SPYCA competition this year, it is a privilege to be seeing the best of the next generation of creative young chefs working in Australia. It is more important than ever to mentor Australia’s talented group of young chefs and the SPYCA competition provides the perfect opportunity to do so.”

The winners of the Pacific Regional Finals will gain visibility and prestige in the culinary world but will also have the chance to compete for the global S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Award at the Grand Finale in Milan in 2025.

The Competition will also feature three additional awards alongside the main prize: the S.Pellegrino Social Responsibility Award voted for by the Sustainable Restaurant Association which runs the Food Made Good program; the Acqua Panna Connection in Gastronomy Award, voted for by the Competition mentors; and the Fine Dining Lovers Food for Thought Award voted for by Fine Dining Lovers readers.

Peter Gilmore (QUAY, SYD), local jury member of the 2022/2023 Pacific Region of the S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Competition said, “The S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Competition opens the door for talented young chefs globally. What a way to promote creativity and celebrate these talented individuals, particularly after a tough few years for the industry with Covid-19 and the current cost of living crisis. It’s inspiring to see.”

To start the application and discover more about the initiative please visit: https://www.sanpellegrinoyoungchefacademy.com/the-competition/application-form

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