October 2024: The highly anticipated Young Chef Young Waiter and Young Mixologist (YYY) Scotland competition, presented by Champagne PIAFF, recently crowned its winners after an exciting display of skill and creativity at the prestigious Gleneagles. As the competition wrapped up, attention now turns to the global stage, where the Scottish champions will compete against the world’s best in the Young Chef Young Waiter and Young Mixologist World Finals in Singapore this November.
The winners of the Young Chef Young Waiter and Young Mixologist Scotland competition presented by Champagne PIAFF are:
These talented individuals impressed the esteemed judges with their innovative approaches, technical expertise, and passion for hospitality. Each category saw fierce competition, with participants incorporating Champagne PIAFF and NEFT Vodka into their challenges, elevating the level of creativity and finesse. In the chef’s category, the incorporation of Loch Fyne’s Scottish salmonin the starter course truly set the stage for culinary excellence, while Loch Fyne’s also added a distinctive touch to the welcome event with their delicious oysters.
The winners were crowned at an awards evening held at the beautiful Gleneagles Hotel, following a luxurious Champagne PIAFF reception that set the tone for a night of celebration and recognition.
The excitement doesn’t end in Scotland. The newly crowned winners are set to represent the nation at the World Young Chef Young Waiter and Young Mixologist Finals in Singapore, from Friday, 22nd November to Sunday, 24th November 2024. They will join 12 chefs, 12 waiters, and 12 mixologists from 11 other countries for a global competition like no other.
Competing on an international platform, the Scottish champions will have a unique opportunity to showcase their talents to the world, make valuable global connections, and take their careers to the next level.
Furthermore, a special thank you to the dedicated judging panel for YYY Scotland, comprised of industry leaders and experts who lent their time and expertise to evaluate the competitors’ performances:
As the world looks toward the World Finals in Singapore, we are excited to see how our Scottish champions fare on the global stage. Their journey is a testament to the vibrant talent emerging from Scotland’s hospitality industry, and we are proud to support them as they represent our nation.
We are immensely grateful for the ongoing support of our esteemed sponsors and partners, including Champagne PIAFF, Gleneagles, Loch Fyne, NEFT Vodka, GREAT Campaign, Culinary Institute of America, Caterite Food & Wine, Clarks Speciality Foods, and John Gilmour Butchers.
Quotations:
Robert Walton MBE, Chairman of WorldYYY said: “The Young Chef Young Waiter and Young Mixologist Scotland competition is a platform that celebrates young talent within our vibrant industry. It was great to see all the young talent’s take part this year and a huge congratulations to the three winners. YYY serves as an incredible platform for career growth, gaining invaluable opportunities to engage with esteemed industry professionals, cultivate new skills, and foster enduring connections. I look forward to seeing all the winners in Singapore this Novemember.”
Adam Handling MBE, Chef Owner of Adam Handling Restaurant Group Said: “‘Coming back to where it all started for me in Scotland is always really special. YYY is such an important competition, encouraging the next generation of enthusiastic young talent in hospitality roles and pushing them to be the best that they can be. The restaurant and bar world are changing, and this competition is there to help them evolve and adapt, nurturing the exciting and fresh talent they already bring. I am honoured to be part of such an important step in so many young chefs’ careers and look forward to continuing to support the competition.”
Paul Robinson, Chief Creative Officer at NEFT Vodka said: “I’m very much looked forward to working with the talented finalists who were chosen for the Young Mixologist Scotland 2024 competition. These artists are the future of hospitality, so it was exciting to see the creations they brought to the table.”
Louise O’Flynn, The Great Britain & Northern Ireland Campaign said: “GREAT is delighted to be involved in Young Chef Young Waiter: it is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the best of UK hospitality and invite the world to join the UK in ‘seeing things differently’ by recognising and rewarding world class professionals in the hospitality industry’.”
About YYY
Since its establishment in 1979, the Young Chef Young Waiter competition has continued to promote hospitality as a career of choice, a profession, and a vocation. Today, with its new revitalised format Young Chef Young Waiter continues to honour the next culinary and service stars globally. World Young Chef Young Waiter, in partnership with Great Campaign UK and Northern Ireland and the Culinary Institute of America, mission to discover the best young talents in the industry. The competition is open to Young Chefs and waiters under the age of 28 from diverse backgrounds and YYY ensures these young talents are equipped with relevant skills, current knowledge, and a network to help them succeed in the world of hospitality.
In 2022, the competition marked a significant milestone by expanding its reach to a global audience, with participants from seven countries striving for the title of World Young Chef Young Waiter Champion. Building on this success, the competition returned in 2023, reaffirming its commitment to supporting the global hospitality industry and providing an expansive stage for the cultivation of creativity, education, and innovation that knows no geographical bounds, the event promises to surpass all previous iterations in size, quality, and sustainability.
Notes to editors:
The World Young Chef Young Waiter competition, established in 1979 in partnership with UKHospitality and the Restaurant Association. The competition promotes hospitality as a career of choice, a profession, and an avocation. The competition is open to all young chefs and waiters from any background under the age of 28.
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Editors’ Note:
The GREAT Britain & Northern Ireland campaign is a programme to drive economic growth across the nation by encouraging an international audience to visit, study and do business with the UK. It was set up in 2011 and promotes the best of the UK in 164 countries around the world, consistently generating a strong return on investment averaging 15.1. @greatbritain (Twitter) @greatcampaign (Instagram)
4th December 2024
