Meet the Grand Jury

As the temperature rises ahead of the Grand Finale of S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Competition 2019-21, S.Pellegrino is excited to reveal the prestigious line-up of big-name chefs who will form the Grand Jury for the 2019-2021 edition.

Seven chefs from around the world, including: Pim Techamuanvivit, Mauro Colagreco, Manu Buffara, Gavin Kaysen, Enrico Bartolini, Clare Smyth and Andreas Caminada will unite in Milan, forming the elite chef panel, known as The Seven Sages, for the Grand Finale on 28-30 October 2021.

These seven giants of global gastronomy will be tasked with the huge responsibility of selecting and crowning the winner of the S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Competition 2019-21.

At this point in the competition, 12 young global finalists remain, shortlisted from thousands of applicants who attended a series of intense regional heats held around the world. This year, the competition has recognised more young chefs — and placed greater emphasis on mentorship, gender balance and inclusivity — than ever before.

This October, the 12 young chef finalists will fly into Milan with their mentors by their sides. They will then go head-to-head in the kitchen as they create their winning signature dishes in competition conditions, in front of a global audience and, of course, The Seven Sages. 

As the final countdown to the Grand Finale begins, the 12 finalists are hard at work, collaborating with their chef mentors, perfecting signature dishes and honing their presentation skills as they get ready to wow The Seven Sages.

Here's what you need to know about each Sage.
 

Clare Smyth

The Irish born chef was named the World’s Best Female Chef by World’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2018. She has an impeccable list of accolades and is currently seen as one of London’s most exciting culinary creators. 

While rising the ranks and working under the tutelage of Gordon Ramsay, Smyth became the first and only British female chef to earn the ultimate accolade of three Michelin stars for her work at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay. 

In August 2017, she opened the Core restaurant in Notting Hill and was quickly awarded two Michelin-stars. As a chef, leader and mentor for future stars, Smyth’s has become one of the leading lights of London’s culinary landscape. 

Enrico Bartolini

Enrico Bartolini can be categorised as one of Italy’s finest gastronomic talents. He currently holds nine Michelin stars across his restaurants, earning three of them in the 2020 guide for Enrico Bartolini at MUDEC in Milan.

The highly accomplished chef first made his mark abroad in the kitchens of Paolo Petrini in Paris and Mark Page in London, before returning to Italy where he worked under the guidance of Massimiliano Alajmo. He earned his first Michelin star while running the Le Robinie restaurant in Oltrepò, Pavese, at the age of just 29.

Bartolini leads the way in the movement of gastronomic excellence, blending research and experimentation with the rich, dynamic culture of Italy.

Manu Buffara

Manu Buffara is the latest ‘one to watch’ chef from Brazil who is putting her hometown of Curitiba on the culinary map. The young chef, who completed several stints of work at restaurants such as Noma and Alinea, has attracted international attention for her restaurant Manu, winning the Miele One to Watch Award for Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants 2018. 

With her growing voice, she is a champion for change, focussing on waste reduction, better nutrition and the environment in both her hometown and on the global gastronomy scene. She is a highly creative and emotional chef with a strong connection to society and culture, something seen across her culinary creations. 

Mauro Colagreco

The popular Italo-Argentine chef currently resides at the pinnacle of gastronomy, with his Mirazur restaurant in France, holding three Michelin stars and the title of the Best Restaurant in the World on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list.

Known for his borderless cooking, the “chef of the year”, showcases local and homegrown produce on the innovative menu at his Côte d’Azur restaurant, nestled within bustling Mediterranean gardens and surrounded by amazing sea views. 

Beginning his career at the Gato Dumas hotel school in Buenos Aires, before making his way to France in the early 2000’s and being taken under the wing by French greats like Alain Passard and Alain Ducasse, Colagreco’s eclectic portfolio of projects now spans the world. He has Brasserie GrandCœur in Paris, Florie's at the Four Seasons Hotel, Palm Beach, and a hamburger chain, Carne, in Argentina.

Andreas Caminada

Chef Andreas Caminada showcases contemporary Swiss cuisine at his three-Michelin-starred restaurant Schloss Schauenstein set inside a historic 13th century castle. Located in his hometown of Graubünden, Switzerland, the restaurant’s unique geography allows the chef to source ingredients from the crystal-clear lake of Lucerne and the snow-capped Swiss Alps. 

The longevity and consistency of the world class restaurant are testament to the chef’s commitment to perfection. In addition to this flagship establishment, his portfolio boasts casual dining hotspots in luxury locations like St. Moritz. 

His dedication and commitment to the culinary profession is evident throughout the chef’s foundation, Fundaziun Uccelin. A group that supports and nurtures young cooks and service staff to improve their careers with further learning, apprenticeships and funding for culinary activities. 

Chef Caminada received the World’s 50 Best Sustainable Restaurant Award for his environmental and social approach at Schloss Schauenstein in 2019.

Pim Techamuanvivit

Once a Silicon Valley exec turned food blogger, Pim Techamuanvivit quietly opened her first restaurant Kin Khao in San Francisco. Almost immediately she gained one Michelin star in 2015 and garnered a cult following for her authentic Thai cooking. 

Since then, the self-taught chef has catapulted onto the international culinary scene and has taken the helm as executive chef at one of the best Thai restaurants in the world, Nahm (Best Restaurant in Asia 2014 and one Michelin star since 2017). Here, she pursues the restaurant’s long-standing culinary principles while at the same time injecting her own signature style into the dishes she serves.

Gavin Kaysen

Gavin Kaysen is the owner of the Spoon and Stable Restaurant in Minneapolis and is one of a handful of chefs from the USA to stand and represent his country at the biannual Bocuse d’Or culinary competition in Lyon, France. 

In 2015, team USA won their first silver medal with Kaysen as head coach and in 2017 they won gold. Kaysen is now the President of Team USA and will be the leader of the crew who will represent the country at Bocuse d’Or 2021.Open, engaging and always willing to share his knowledge, Kaysen has an acute eye for detail and years of experience in what it takes to cook high-level cuisine under the pressure of the lights.

Join us live

The Grand Finale of S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Competition 2019-21 will be streamed live via the Academy’s website and Facebook page, and also via S.Pellegrino TV.

Academy members can also watch the Brain Food Forum via the Academy’s private Facebook Group and the reserved area of the website.

Be sure to join us for this momentous occasion, and follow the Academy on Facebook and Instagram for live updates.