PR92104

MILAN, October 5, 2021 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/--

The wait is over: from 28th to 30th October S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy

will welcome to Milan all those who share its belief in the transformative

power of taste for the Grand Finale of the S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy

2019-2021 competition. Involving 48 young chef Regional Winners and 12 mentor

chefs, the event will last 3 days and will include the cooking competition as

well as several new educational and networking activities culminating on the

final day with the new S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Brain Food Forum

followed by the Competition Awards Ceremony.

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click:

https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8963051-s-pellegrino-young-chef-grand-finale-2021-is-almost-here/

Stefano Bolognese, Sanpellegrino International Business Unit Director: "We are

excited to welcome the international Gastronomy community to Milan. One year

ago, we launched the S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy, as an inspiring community

where talented young chefs connect with the most influential members of the

gastronomic world, and are empowered with a plan of education, mentoring and

experience opportunities. The S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy competition is

one of the key activities of the project and the primary tool that we have to

reinforce our commitment: stimulate and nurture meaningful creativity, able to

push a continuous evolution within not only the Gastronomy sector, but also the

whole society. It's what has made the Grand Finale, that we are going to live

together, such an important date for us and in the global culinary calendar,

too."

THE COMPETITION SO FAR AND THE FINALISTS

This edition of the competition was more impressive than ever, seeing

applicants from all over the world to take part. With S.Pellegrino's commitment

towards gender balance and inclusivity, the percentage of women registered

among the candidates increased to more than 10% since 2015. All over the globe,

135 young chefs passed the preliminary selections and took part in live

cook-offs in front of international jury panels from the participating

countries of the 12 regions.

The S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy regional winners arrive at the Grand Finale

after a mentorship path during which, thanks to the support of a Senior Chef,

they were able to refine their signature dishes.

The 12 regions and the respective S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy winners are:

1.        Jose Lorenzo Morales, Melbourne, Australia, Pacific Region – "Analogy"

2.        Kevin Wong Tat Mun, Singapore, Singapore, Asia Region – "Celebration of a

Duck"

3.        Albert Manso Miras, Barcelona, Spain, Iberian & Mediterranean Region –

"Quail and Wine"

4.        Cynthia Xrysw Ruelas Diaz, Guadalajara, Mexico, Latin America Region –

"Milpa y Mar"

5.        Levente Koppány, Budapest, Hungary, Central Europe Region – "Rainbow trout

with chervil, forest mushrooms and wild garlic"

6.        Vitalii Savelev, Moscow, Russian Federation, Euro Asia Region – "Black Sea

Rapa with mushrooms grown on lemon peels"

7.        Alexandre Alves Pereira, Paris, France, North West Europe Region – "Green

asparagus, sardine, ground ivy"

8.        Paul Thinus Prinsloo, Cape Town, South Africa, Africa & Middle East Region –

"Bouillabaisse 2.0"

9.        Alessandro Bergamo, Milan, Italy, Italy & South East Region – "Better an egg

today or a chicken tomorrow?"

10.        Rafael Covarrubias, Oakville, Canada, North America Region – "Mole Negro

spiced muscovy duck, preserved prune, and winter roots"

11.        Jerome Ianmark Calayag, Stockholm, Sweden, UK & North Europe Region –

"Humble vegetables"

12.        Victor/Zhi Cheng Wang, Shanghai, China, Greater China Region – "What is soy

in China"

THE SEVEN SAGES & THE S.PELLEGRINO YOUNG CHEF ACADEMY FORUM

At the Grand Finale, the selected young chefs will cook in front of the Seven

Sages, an esteemed jury panel made up of seven world renowned chefs, who will

judge their dishes to find the final winner of the S.Pellegrino Young Chef

Academy 2019-2021 competition.

The prestigious line-up of big-name chefs will be composed by seven chefs from

around the world: Enrico Bartolini, Manu Buffara, Andreas Caminada, Mauro

Colagreco, Gavin Kaysen, Clare Smyth and Pim Techamuanvivit. The jurors will be

judging the finalists based on three key attributes – technical skills,

creativity, and personal belief – as well as the candidates' potential to

create positive change in society through food. The chef who displays these

attributes most successfully will be crowned the S.Pellegrino Young Chef

Academy 2021 winner.

In addition, this year's culinary journey will also host a one-day S.Pellegrino

Young Chef Academy Brain Food Forum curated by Fine Dining Lovers, the online

leading voice in gastronomy by S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna. "Brain Food" will

host Massimo Bottura, Virgilio Martinez and the Seven Sages as speakers.

Sharing their experiences and opinions, the guests will inspire all the young

chefs and real food enthusiasts who attend the event, with ideas and

reflections related to the world of gastronomy.

THE THREE ADDITIONAL AWARDS

This year's competition introduced three new awards to reflect S.Pellegrino's

belief in and support of the transformative power of gastronomy and its impact

beyond the kitchen. These awards were available at the Regional level and all

of the 36 winners of these awards will also be invited to attend the Grand

Finale, affording them another opportunity to network with some of the biggest

names in gastronomy from around the globe.

The three awards that complement the existing S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy

award are:

1. Acqua Panna Award for Connection in Gastronomy

This award will be voted for by the 12 mentors, one from each region, and will

go to the chef whose signature dish best reflects the perfect connection

between different cultures. The purpose of the award is to emphasize the

growing trend in global gastronomy of "Chefs without Borders".

2. S.Pellegrino Award for Social Responsibility

This award will be decided by an internationally recognized voice on

sustainability in food, selecting the chef who puts forward the dish that best

represents the principle of food as a result of socially responsible practices.

3. Fine Dining Lovers Food for Thought Award

This award will be voted for by the online Fine Dining Lovers community,

foodies, chefs and fans of gastronomy all over the world, and will be awarded

to the young chef who best represents his/her personal belief within his/her

dish.

S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Grand Finale 2021 highlights will be available

on S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy and Fine Dining Lovers channels. To discover

more about the exciting talent search please visit:

https://www.sanpellegrinoyoungchefacademy.com/.  

About S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna

S.Pellegrino, Acqua Panna and Sanpellegrino Italian Sparkling Drinks are

international trademarks of Sanpellegrino S.p.A., which is based in Milan,

Italy. Distributed in over 150 countries through branches and distributors on

all five continents, these products represent quality excellence by virtue of

their origins and perfectly interpret Italian style worldwide as a synthesis of

pleasure, health and well-being. Founded in 1899, Sanpellegrino S.p.A. is the

leading company in the beverage sector in Italy with its range of mineral

waters, non-alcoholic aperitifs, drinks and iced teas. As a major Italian

producer of mineral water, it has always been committed to enhancing this

primary good for the planet and works responsibly and passionately to ensure

that this resource has a secure future.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1640034/S_Pellegrino_12_Finalists.jpg

SOURCE: Sanpellegrino Group