In an impressive showcase of culinary expertise and exceptional service, Scotland is proud to announce that four remarkable Chefs and four outstanding Waiters took part at the Scotland Young Chef and Young Waiter finals competition. Their remarkable dedication earned them the privilege of representing Scotland at the Scotland finals. The final took place on Thursday 12th October 2023 at the iconic Gleneagles in Scotland and is proudly sponsored by Champagne PIAFF, part of the Loch Lomond Group.
Congratulations to Iain Tennant for winning Young Chef Scotland 2023 and to Anna Wither for winning Young Waiter Scotland 2023. Iain and Anna will now go to represent Scotland in the 2023 WYCYW finals in Monaco. On 23rd-24th November, the Scottish chef and waiter champions will unite their expertise with the finest talents from 9 countries around the globe. The ultimate champion chef and waiter duo of this global showdown will walk away with a reward of $10,000 and be crowned World Young Chef Young Waiter 2023 winners.
We are grateful for the generous support of our esteemed sponsors and partners, including The Caterer, Gleneagles, Champagne PIAFF, Campbell Fish, Caterite, Clarkes Foods, Gilmour Butchers, Great Campaign, Culinary Institute of America, Wine & Something, and Compass, who have played an essential role in making the Young Chef Young Waiter Scotland competition possible.
For the Scotland final, the Head judges for each category were Adam Handling of Adam Handling Restaurant Group for the cooks and Simon King of Igniting Hospitality for the waiters.Furthermore, the Young Waiters and Young chefs also gained invaluable insight and support from Simon Attridge, the executive chef at Gleneagles, Daniel Baernreuther, the general manager of Gleneagles, Peter Meechan, Senior Sous Chef at Gleneagles Townhouse, Graeme Cheevers, Owner and chef Patron of Unalome, David Bell, Regional Executive Chef, Levy UK + Ireland and Compass Scotland, Daniel Greenock, Director of Food & Beverage and Rob Edwards, Co-Founder of Wine&Earth and CFO of WorldYCYW. This exceptional programme allowed the young entrants to gain incredible skills and valuable networks that will significantly advance growth in their careers.
Ryon Head, Champagne PIAFF Brand Manager said: “Champagne PIAFF is incredibly proud to support YCYW Scotland in its mission to nurture and showcase the next generation of culinary and hospitality talent. We believe in empowering the finalists, providing them with the opportunities to flourish and bring their passion to life – and no better opportunity than at the final at Gleneagles on the 12th of October.”
Laura Head, Champagne PIAFF Business Development Manager said: “Champagne PIAFF’s Young Chef Young Waiter Scotland competition has given us a wonderful opportunity to support the future generations of the hospitality industry. As part of the Loch Lomond Group, it was our vision to own the Scottish arm of the world competition to showcase the best of young talent on our home soil…”
Simon Kings, Young Waiter Judge said: “This competition meant a great deal to me, as a previous winner and a judge for the past 10 years I have seen this unique competition evolve and grow into a global event. WYCYW has always focused on showcasing and inspiring young talent from all corners of the United Kingdom, it has been a launch pad for so many and I’m thrilled that we have returned to Scotland with its rich heritage of warm engaging hospitality.”
Daniel Baernreuther, Young Waiter Judge said: “ I’m incredibly excited that I was able to be apart of the Young Chef Young Waiter competition this year, which was hosted at Gleneagles. The skill set required for service at a fine dining level is incredible and it was real joy to host the country’s top talent in Auchterarder and to see who came out on top.”
Simon Attridge, Young Chef Judge said: “It’s great to be involved with YCYW, as the competition is a great platform for the future of our fantastic industry, and the enthusiasm and energy that comes with that. I am grateful that I was able to witness what Scotland’s best young talent produced and their interactions between, culinary, service and guests, and how these experiences and opportunities will support in the development of their careers”
Graeme Cheevers, Young Chef Judge said: “I am delighted to be a judge for YCYW Scotland and had a great time seeing these young exciting talents competing at this amazing competition. I loved being involved in this and supporting the future of the hospitality industry”
David Hay, Managing Director of Compass Group Scotland said: “We are proud to be involved in the Young Chef Young Waiter competition as it comes to Scotland for the first time. At Compass Scotland, we champion Scottish producers and the breadth of quality across the country’s larder so we’re pleased to take part in a competition like this, which will shine a light on that. We’re also committed to supporting the next generation of talent through a wide range of learning and development opportunities for all of our colleagues across the business and taking part in competitions like Young Chef Young Waiter is an extension of that commitment.”
About YCYW
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. Young Chef Young Waiter, in partnership with Great Campaign UK and Northern Ireland and Culinary Institute of America, mission is 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 YCYW 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 is set to return 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.
Beyond celebrating the accomplishments and diversity of the hospitality industry, past winners of Young Chef Young Waiter have achieved remarkable success, with some becoming industry successes.
About Champagne PIAFF
Champagne PIAFF is the first house to have emerged in 50 years; elegant, playful, and crafted with the expertise passed down through five generations, our head winemaker Maxime Mansard produces a refreshing style. Perfectly blending the passion and knowledge of a time-honoured skill with our fresh outlook, embracing a combination of historic and modern world culture.
Champagne PIAFF proudly supports the Scotland Finals, embodying values of community engagement. This collaborative initiative underlines Champagne PIAFF’s dedication to not only crafting exceptional champagne but also contributing positively to the industry it serves.
Join us in celebrating these rising talents on their journey to compete on the global stage. Follow their progress as they witness their culinary and service excellence in motion as they aspire to be crowned Young Chef and Young Waiter 2023 Champions.
31st October 2023
