What will dinner look like in the near future? SA chefs to sample the offerings in global competition
Whatever your favourite dishes may be today, chances are they will look quite different in 20 to 30 years.
Overall, the culinary landscape is predicted to undergo major changes in the decades ahead ‒ not only because our habits and attitudes towards food are changing.
Population growth, global warming, the challenges surrounding food security and equal access to food, and the promise of more sustainable food will lead individuals to eat differently.
Talk about eating differently, five of South Africa’s rising stars are set to dazzle a prestigious local jury with their groundbreaking visions for the future of gastronomy.
These chefs were recently revealed as the S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Competition 2024-25 finalists. The competition is a global initiative to discover and mentor the most talented young chefs under 30 years of age, worldwide.
Thousands of chefs from all over the world applied for the competition, inspired by the opportunity to connect and learn directly from the most influential members of the gastronomy world and to demonstrate their unique creativity and vision.
Among them, 165 passed the first selection and are now ready to show their talent and passion during the various regional finals.
According to the academy team, each chef’s application and signature dish was evaluated by culinary experts at ALMA ‒ the world's leading international educational and training centre for Italian cuisine and hospitality.
The selection process was judged according to technical skills, creativity, and a personal belief in the transformative power of gastronomy to make a positive change in society through food.
Head of education of ALMA, Matteo Berti, said: “The S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Competition surprises us with every edition and it is not a given since we have been collaborating with them since the first edition.
“Candidates outdo themselves every year, guided by passion and commitment.”
Berti said the selection process was not easy but now it’s up to the shortlisted candidates to show their talents throughout the competition.
Out of the 15 regional finalists for Africa, Middle East and South Asia, five South African chefs made it on the list and are namely:
- Zanté Neethling ‒ Beyond Restaurant, Cape Town
- Jason Jonker ‒ Upper Union, Cape Town
- Monaheng Moloinyane ‒ Badinage Restaurant, Pretoria
- Luckson Mare ‒ The Living Room at Summerhill Estate, Durban
- Marilé du Plessis ‒ Rust en Vrede, Cape Town, South Africa
These chefs will compete across 15 different regional finals around the world from September 2024 to January 2025.
Renowned chefs Jurors Bertus Basson, Akmal Anuar, and Roaya Saleh will have the task of selecting the winners in four award categories at a regional event that is set to be held in Cape Town in November this year.
The regional winners in each of these categories will go on to compete for the global title at the grand finale in 2025.