• Elle & Vire Professionnel, a world leader in premium dairy production for professionals, enthusiastically announces the first edition of the Young Chefs Romania competition, which will take place on September 11, 2025, in Bucharest and will be hosted by Born2Bake.
• This unique competition is dedicated to young confectioners up to 35 years old, offering them a platform to demonstrate their talent, creativity and passion for desserts, with a focus on reinterpreting the famous cheesecake in an innovative style, with Romanian influences.
The 2025 edition challenges participants to reimagine cheesecake-, one of the most beloved desserts globally, integrating elements specific to Romanian culture and gastronomy. In the preselection stage, competitors must propose an original recipe for cheesecake and a second dessert inspired by cheesecake, such as pralines, cabbage, cupcakes or cookies, both made with the high-quality cream cheeses provided by Elle & Vire ProfessionnelIn the live final, the qualified teams will have the opportunity to impress the jury with their dishes, being evaluated based on technique, design, the story behind the dessert and the use of Elle & Vire ingredients.
About Elle & Vire Professionnel
Elle & Vire Professionnel, part of the group Savencia Cheese & Dairy, is a leading brand in the culinary industry, known for its premium dairy products, such as butter, cream and cream cheeses, used by world-renowned chefs, such as Pierre Gagnaire or Christophe Michalak. By organizing Young Chefs Romania, Elle & Vire reaffirms its commitment to supporting excellence in gastronomy and promoting young talents in Romania.
In the country, the brand is distributed exclusively by Delaco Distribution, under the leadership of the Director General Romulus Dumitru, which emphasizes the importance of the competition as a launching pad for young confectioners: "We are happy to be with confectioners on their path to excellence, right from the beginning of their careers. We want this competition to become a launching pad for young talents in Romania. More than a contest, an opportunity to be seen and connect with recognized professionals. We inspire a new generation of Chefs."
Competition format
The competition is open to qualified pastry chefs up to the age of 35 and is held in teams of two: a head chef and a helper (no age limit for the helper). The competition is structured in two stages:
- Preselection: Participants must register by August 15 2025, on the official site youngchefs.ro, a sketch of a cheesecake with Romanian influences and a proposal for a second cheesecake-inspired dessert. All recipes must use Elle & Vire Professionnel cream cheeses.
- Live final: The finalists, selected during the period TUESDAY-TUESDAY, August TUESDAY and notify August 30, will compete on 11 September 2025 at Born2Bake, Bucharest, where they will prepare the two desserts live in front of the jury.
Competition jury
An exceptional jury, made up of leading pastry professionals, will rigorously evaluate the competitors' performances, focusing on creativity, technique and the story of the desserts:
- Ana Consulea, Elle & Vire Professionnel Ambassador in Romania, founder of Zelateria and Zelato, renowned for her innovative approach to Romanian pastry.
- Ioana Romanescu, founder of Cupcake Philosophy and Born2Bake, recognized for her creativity in modern desserts.
- Peter Schuller, founder of Iris Délice, a leading name in artisanal pastry in Romania.
- Robert Eisler, founder of Robert's Oven, appreciated for his authentic desserts and impeccable technique.
- Maximus Pica, World Champion at the Coupe du Monde de la Pâtisserie and Pastry Chef at Mignon Dessert dal Mondo, who brings an international perspective.
- Kevin Zwygart, Pastry Chef at La Maison de L'Excellence Savencia, expert in high-class pastry.
Awards and opportunities
Young Chefs Romania 2025 offers attractive prizes, designed to support the professional development of competitors:
- First prize: A hands-on training for two days at La Maison de L'Excellence Savencia from Paris, in the spring of 2026.
- Second prize: A masterclass with Maximus Pica, World Champion at the Coupe du Monde de la Pâtisserie, at the Mignon & Pica Pastry School, Vișeu de Sus, Maramureș.
- Prize III: A masterclass at ICEP Hotel School with an internationally recognized chef.
In addition to prizes, the competition offers participants the opportunity to gain visibility, connect with industry professionals, and build a successful career in the pastry industry.
Young Chefs Romania 2025, organized by Elle & Vire Professionnel in partnership with Delaco Distribution, is more than a competition – it is a celebration of creativity, passion and excellence in pastry. Through the theme cheesecakeWith Romanian influences, the competition encourages young confectioners to leave their mark on an iconic dessert, contributing to the promotion of Romanian gastronomy on the international stage.
Article written by Gabriela Dan, Editor-in-Chief Arta Albă
Read on White Art and: Recipe – White Chocolate Fig Tart
