As part of the S.Pellegrino Young Chef 2015 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. The 10 UK & Ireland semi-finalists will have to prepare and cook their very own signaturedish for the Jury in an exciting cook-off event, which will then be critiqued across five areasincluding ingredients, skill, genius, beauty and message.
This stellar line up of top chefs taking a seat on the jury will ensure that the UK & Irelandputs forward their very best young chef to Milan, making their mark internationally bycompeting on a global scale. The winner of the UK & Ireland round will be accompanied byClare Smyth to compete in the inaugural title of S.Pellegrino Young Chef 2015 in Milan, June2015.
All four of the selected judges have incredible gastronomic success stories. They haveopened and transformed top restaurants across London and Dublin, leaving their markacross the world. Clare Smyth MBE says, “This global S.Pellegrino initiative is one that has gained my fullsupport. Gastronomic competitions like this allow the next generation of Michelin starredchefs to make their mark on the restaurant world and give them a chance to get noticed ona global platform. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perfect their skills and cook forsome of the world’s best.”
Smyth, a Northern Irish chef and Chef Patron at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, became thefirst and only female British chef to hold and retain three Michelin stars and is one of onlysix in the world to ever have accomplished this. She was recently awarded an MBE andscored a perfect 10/10 in the 2015 edition of the Good Food Guide as well as Chef of theYear in 2013.
Kochhar was the world’s first Indian chef to receive a Michelin star and was awarded theaccolade during his time as Head Chef at Tamarind in 2001. Atul then went on to open hisfirst solo venture, Benares Restaurant in London, where he was again awarded a MichelinStar, becoming one of the most critically acclaimed chefs in Britain for his take on modernIndian cuisine.
Doherty holds the position of Executive Chef at the highly acclaimed fine-dining Londonestablishment, Duck & Waffle, showcasing his inventive style through the menu whilstpaying homage to traditional British cuisine. In 2013 Dan was named ‘Rising Star Chef’ byTatler Restaurant awards as well as one of London’s ‘1000 most influential People for 2014’by London Evening Standard.
Dunne is a Dublin born Chef who gained experience and honed his skills working underMichelin acclaimed chefs Gary Rhodes, Gordon Ramsay and Anthony Demetre, to name a few. Dunne is the youngest chef in Ireland to be awarded a Michelin star, gaining theaccolade just 13 months after opening his first restaurant, Bon Appetit In 2013. Since thenhe has opened his second restaurant – Cleaver East – offering an innovative and uniquetasting experience of Irish and International dishes.
This carefully selected, world-class UK & Ireland Jury has an exciting job ahead of them. InFebruary, 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 finalfor the inaugural title of S.Pellegrino Young Chef 2015.