S.Pellegrino Young Chef 2020 regional finalists announced

The 15 candidates from the UK and northern Europe who will be competing in the S.Pellegrino Young Chef 2020 regional final have been announced.

The chefs will be going head to head on 12 November 2019 in a bid to be crowned the regional winner. This year, the UK & North Europe region encompasses the United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark, Netherlands, Norway and Sweden.

Regional finalists include:
• Oliver Serve of Grand Hotel Oslo (Norway);
• Pippa Lovell of Little Fish at the Bay (Isle of Man);
• Nicolas Fagundes Galindo of Chapter One (Ireland);
• Liliana Haaland of Frilands (Norway);
• Joshua Wilde of the Coach Marlow (UK);
• Thilda Martensson of Grand Hotel Saltsjöbaden (Sweden);
• Arlen Ortega of One Pico (Ireland);
• Luuk Hoffman of Frunk (Netherlands);
• Rik Veen of De Lindehof (Netherlands);
• Jerome Lanmark Calayag of the Ledbury (Sweden);
• Rasmas Bundgaard Nielser of Bundgaard Food Consulting (UK);
• Gerard Villaret of De Librije (Netherlands);
• Friso Van Amerongen of Rijks (Netherlands);
• Timothee Martin of the Greenhouse (UK);
• Andrea Vailati of the Ledbury (UK).

Each chef's application and signature dish was evaluated by culinary experts at the International Educational and Training Centre for Italian Cuisine, ALMA, taking into account technical skills, creativity and a personal belief in the power of gastronomy for positive change in society.

Andrea Sinigaglia, general manager of ALMA, said: "We have had the pleasure of collaborating with S.Pellegrino Young Chef since the very first edition, and every time we are amazed by the variety of ideas and the great passion shown by the candidates."

Following S.Pellegrino's commitment to gender balance and inclusivity, the percentage of women registered among the candidates increased to more than 10%.

This year, the awards include: the S.Pellegrino Young Chef Award (judged by the independent chef jury); the Fine Dining Lovers Food For Thoughts Award (voted for by the online Fine Dining Lovers community); the S.Pellegrino Award for Social Responsibility (voted for by Food Made Good); and the Acqua Panna Award for Connection in Gastronomy (voted for by the Young Chefs' mentors).

By the end of December 2019, the finalists of the four awards will move on to the grand finale, to be held in June 2020.

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