UK & IRELAND’S LEADING CHEFS JOIN S.PELLEGRINO IN SEARCH OF THE WORLD’S BEST YOUNG CHEF

S.PELLEGRINO YOUNG CHEF 2018 COMPETITION

Four of the UK & Ireland’s leading Michelin starred chefs, Angela Hartnett MBE, Alyn Williams, Phil Howard and Mickael Viljanen are joining forces with S.Pellegrino in a global search to find the world’s best young chef.

As part of the S.Pellegrino Young Chef 2018 competition, the panel of four will be tasked with judging the top ten UK & Ireland young chef semi-finalists, selecting one outstanding individual to represent both territories in the global final in Milan next year.

The 10 UK & Ireland semi-finalists will have to prepare and cook their very own signature dish for the Jury in an exciting cook-off event, which will then be critiqued across five areas including ingredients, skill, genius, beauty and message.

This stellar line up of top chefs taking a seat on the jury will ensure that the UK & Ireland puts forward their very best young chef to Milan, making their mark internationally by competing on a global scale. The winner of the UK & Ireland round will be accompanied by Angela Hartnett to compete in the inaugural title of S.Pellegrino Young Chef 2018 in Milan, June 2018.

All four of the selected judges have incredible gastronomic success stories. They have opened and transformed top restaurants across London and Dublin, leaving their mark across the world.

Angela Hartnett MBE says, “This global S.Pellegrino initiative is one that I couldn’t be happier to support. Gastronomic competitions like this allow the next generation of Michelin starred chefs to make themselves known on a global platform and I am excited at this opportunity to help them do so. It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the ambitious young chefs to develop their skill set and for us as a judging panel to inspire them.”

Hartnett, who rose to fame following her work with Gordon Ramsay, has appeared on multiple British television shows and built a spectacular reputation in the hospitality industry. Her success as head chef and involvement with popular restaurants around the world such as Murano, The Connaught, Merchants Tavern and Cucina Angelina has established Hartnett as a distinguished Michelin Starred chef.

Williams has celebrated food since enjoying different cultural dishes as a youngster and with a passion for food and flavours inspired by his childhood, London-born Alyn embarked on his cooking career at the age of 16. However, it was in the Michelin starred kitchen at Les Alouettes that he discovered his aptitude for fine dining and years later is now Chef Patron at Alyn Williams at The Westbury.

Howard is bringing a modern approach to food and an understanding of fine dining to this year’s competition – knowledge and skills that he developed at restaurants Harvey’s and Bibendum. Howard has owned multiple restaurants in London (Kitchen 8, The Ledbury and The Square), won the Catey Award for Restaurateur of the year back in 2011 and is often referred to as the ‘chef’s chef’.

Viljanen has been one of the most prevalent chefs in Ireland since moving from his native home of Finland in 2000. In 2015, Mickael Viljanen started cooking at the Greenhouse where he was quickly awarded the title of Best Chef in Ireland for the second time in his career and it was here he earnt a Michelin star.

This carefully selected, world-class UK & Ireland Jury has an exciting job ahead of them. In October, one talented UK or Irish Young Chef will cook their way into the hearts of the Jury, and embark on a once in a lifetime journey to Milan in June to compete in the global final for the inaugural title of S.Pellegrino Young Chef 2018.