Last month, Brittney Bodden, chef winner of Young Chef Young Waiter Cayman Islands 2022, was
given a once in a young chef’s lifetime opportunity to work in three of London’s top kitchens, spending
a week at one-Michelin-starred Adam Handling’s The Frog, two-Michelin-starred Claude Bosi’s
Bibendum, and three-Michelin-starred Alaine Ducasse’s The Dorchester.
This incredible opportunity to spend time observing and getting involved with the day-to-day running
of three world class kitchens was funded by the Cayman Government, arranged for Brittney to mark
her securing the mantle of Cayman Islands Young Chef Young Waiter chef winner.
For the last two years, Young Chef Young Waiter Cayman Islands has been supported by Seven
Mile Beach luxury beachfront estate, The Watermark Grand Cayman, providing valuable
opportunities and coaching to young Caymanians working in hospitality, with sustainability and
community at the heart of both Young Chef Young Waiter and The Watermark’s values. The
Watermark will sponsor the competition once again this year, with the live Young Chef Young Waiter
Cayman Islands final taking place on Monday, 4 September 2023, for more information on how to
enter please visit https://youngchefyoungwaiter.com/enter/
Fraser Wellon, Developer – The Watermark, Grand Cayman said: “We are thrilled for Ms Bodden
to be recognized globally for her achievements and to share a kitchen with some of the world’s top
chefs. Our young Caymanian talent is so deserving of this opportunity and The Watermark is pleased
to support her along the way. Congratulations to Ms Bodden and her bright future ahead.”
Brittney said: “I feel so lucky to be given this incredible opportunity to work with three of my heroes
in some of the most prestigious kitchens in London. It’s been a whirlwind couple of weeks, and I’ve
learnt so much about running a Michelin-starred kitchen during my time in London. I’m so grateful
for this opportunity and would like to thank Adam Handling, Claude Bosi, and Mario Perera, and their
amazing teams at The Frog, Bibendum, and The Dorchester. This is definitely not an April I’ll forget
soon!”
Brittney’s London schedule was as follows:
- First week at 1-Michelin Star The Frog by Adam Handling (3rd-7th April)
- Second week at 2-Michelin Star Claude Bosi at Bibendum (10th – 14th)
- Final week at 3-Michelin Star Alaine Ducasse at The Dorchester with Exec. Chef Mario
Perera (17th -21st)
Adam Handling said: “It was a pleasure working with Brittney during her time in London and I’m
delighted I was able to have her working in my kitchen at The Frog. Encouraging the next generation
of enthusiastic young talent into hospitality roles on these kinds of trips is so important and I look
forward to continuing to support YCYW in my role as Head Chef judge to continue to develop and
grow young talent in the industry.”
Mario Perera said: “Brittney is a talented and passionate young chef and it’s been fantastic to see
her work alongside the other young chefs in my kitchen at The Dorchester. Facilitating entry level
positions for young talent in hospitality is a cause that’s very important to me, and I’m thrilled to be
able to support Sean and Robert’s work at World Young Chef Young Waiter.”
Claude Bosi said: “It is inspiring to see the passion and enthusiasm young chefs like Brittney bring
to their work. Having her in the kitchen at Bibendum has been wonderful and I hope to host other
young chefs like her in the future.”
Sean Valentine FIH, Managing Director of World Young Chef Young Waiter said: “What a fantastic
way to be able to give a talented young chef from The Cayman Islands first-hand experience of
working in not one, but three exceptional London kitchens. I am beyond thrilled the Cayman
Government chose to work with us to arrange this trip for Brittney, and I’d like to say a huge thank
you to Adam, Claude and Mario for their hospitality.”
The 2023 Young Chef Young Waiter Cayman Islands competition, sponsored by The Watermark
Cayman, is officially open. The selected shortlist of young chefs and young waiters will compete in
a live final and competition day at The Ritz Carlton Grand Cayman on Monday, 4 September 2023,
and the two Cayman finalists will go on to the world final in Monaco on Monday, 27 and Tuesday, 28
November 2023. If you would like to enter the competition and are under 28 years of age, please do
so by visiting https://youngchefyoungwaiter.com/enter/
About Young Chef Young Waiter
Promoting Hospitality as a career of choice, a profession, and a vocation. World Young Chef Young
Waiter is a global competition open to all young professional waiters and chefs from any background.
Combining a 44-year heritage with a lively new format, 2019 saw the hugely exciting, highly
successful return of YCYW. Expanding over the years 2022 saw our first global audience with 7
countries from around the world competing for the title of World Young Chef Young Waiter
Champion. The competition will hit the global stage again in 2023 being bigger, better and, more
sustainable than ever, supporting the global hospitality community and providing a platform for
creativity, education and innovation that can be shared by all.
