• The South East Europe semi-final of the seventh edition of the S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy 2026/2027 will take place in Romania, between October 26-27, 2026.
The event marks a major opportunity for young talents from the region to demonstrate their creativity and craftsmanship in front of a prestigious jury.
The competition, initiated by S.Pellegrino, is dedicated to chefs aged between 18 and 30 and aims to discover and promote the new generation of talented chefs globally. Entries are open until June 9 2026Participants must submit a preparation signature which harmoniously illustrates three essential elements: technical skill (impeccable technical skills), creativity (creativity) and personal belief (personal fingerprint). Applications are submitted exclusively through the official competition platform and, in the first phase, are evaluated by experts from ALMA – International School of Italian Culinary Arts.
The selected ones will compete in the 15 regional semi-finals organized around the world. The winner of the South East Europe stage will represent the region in the grand final in Milan, scheduled for 2027, where they will compete alongside the most promising young international chefs. The semi-final jury will be made up of regionally recognized chefs, and the exact composition will be announced in the near future. At the international final, the decisions will belong to a panel of world authority in gastronomy.
Main prize followed by special prizes
Beyond the main title, the competition offers three special prizes: S.Pellegrino Social Responsibility Award (awarded by the Sustainable Restaurant Association), Acqua Panna Connection in Gastronomy Award (voted by mentors) and Fine Dining Lovers Food for Thought AwardThe 2026/2027 edition also brings an important novelty – an extensive mentoring program, designed to provide long-term support to young chefs, through professional guidance and valuable experience exchange.
Previous editions have already demonstrated the potential of Romanian chefs. At the 2024-2025 Southern Europe and Mediterranean semi-final, Alin Vădean, Young Chef, mentored by Chef Cezar Munteanu, was rewarded with the award for social responsibility, and Bogdan Panaite, Young Chef, mentored by Chef Vlad Pădurescu, obtained third place, confirming the quality and ambition of the new generation of chefs in the country.
S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy is not just a competition, but a development platform that focuses on innovation, sustainability and culinary identity. By organizing the semi-final in Romania, the initiative highlights the growing dynamism of the local gastronomic scene and provides international visibility to young professionals who define tomorrow's trends.
Sanpellegrino SpA products (S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna) are distributed in Romania by PPD Global Romania, part of the international group Photos Photiades Group, a strategic partner of the main premium beverage producers worldwide.
Interested young chefs can find all the details and complete the registration on official website of the S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy.
Article written by Gabriela Dan, Editor-in-Chief Arta Albă
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