The Young Chef Young Waiter competition, which promotes hospitality as a career of choice, a profession, and a vocation, returns for 2020 with entries now open and the final planned for 17th November. Established in 1979, the competition was relaunched for 2019 by The Nth Degree Global in partnership with UKHospitality and the Restaurant Association.
The competition will be open to young chefs and waiters under the age of 26 and this year will include those who may be temporarily unable to work or been furloughed from their present roles due to Covid-19. As president of the Restaurant Association and founder of The Nth Degree Global, Robert Walton MBE wanted to ensure that young professionals had the opportunity to shine in the world’s best chef and waiter competition during this unprecedented time
The Young Chef Young Waiter competition found the best young chef and best young waiter across the UK.
Masterchef’s John Torode awarded the 2019 winners, first and second place to the YCYW finalists at Quaglino’s, London on October 29.
Head chef judge Theo Randall announced the successful Young Chefs:
Head waiter judge Simon King announced the successful Young Waiters:
They participated in the live YCYW competition at Westminster Kingsway College, London.
Semi-Final: Monday 28 October: All 32 took part in a range of tasks devised by our expert judges
Final: Tuesday 29 October: 12 lucky finalists returned to WKC to compete in 6 pairs (1 chef and 1 waiter) taking on exciting challenges to wow the judging panel
Theo Randall
Head Judge - Chef
Simon King
Head Judge - Waiter
Our inspirational judging panel for 2019 was made up of Claude Bosi, Emily Roux, Jeff Galvin, Clare Smyth MBE, Andy Downton, Johanna Wimmer and other big names in hospitality
See all judges
Finding the best
Across the UK
Masterchef’s John Torode led the fabulous festivities to commend the finalists and congratulate the winners and placeholders. Prestigious guests from the world of hospitality made this an unforgettable night of celebration, recognition and fun!
First prize for both chef and waiter:
6 day trip to DAOU Family vineyards in California in 2020 including flights and accommodation.
The winning chef will cook at both DAOU venues and the winning waiter will serve and work with the chef and both will enjoy a tour of the vineyard and a Double Magnum of DAOU Family Estate Wine
Second prize for both Chef and Waiter
Nordic cuisine tour accompanied by Arla Pro Head Chef in Copenhagen including flights and accommodation. The second place chef and waiter will enjoy lunch and dinner at the city’s leading Flexitarian restaurants as well as a sensory cheese tasting experience with cheese graders, paired with wines, beer and non-alcoholic drinks.
Third prize for both Chef and Waiter:
A personal at-home wine tasting with a specialist wine expert from The Social Wine Company for 10 people and all wines and glasses supplied
Other prizes include:
Winners and judges have included some the industry’s great recognisable names– Theo Randall, Mark Sargeant, Marcus Wareing, Simon King, John Torode, Anne and Jamain Swarb, Jeremy King, Raymond Blanc OBE, Heston Blumenthal OBE, The Earl of Bradford and Lord Forte.
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