S. Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Pacific Finals 2024

Yesterday marked a culinary milestone at the S. Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Pacific Finals, held at Crown College in Melbourne's Southbank, with a spectacular gala dinner at The Lume to cap off the event. The competition brought together 10 of the Pacific Region's most promising young chefs, all under the age of 30, showcasing their skills, creativity, and passion for gastronomy. The evening reached its peak when the winner was announced at the gala dinner: KyongHo Choi of Victoria, who will now represent the Pacific Region at the Grand Finale in Milan in 2025.

The finalists, carefully selected by the prestigious Alma school of Italian cuisine and hospitality, presented their signature main courses, each one a reflection of their unique culinary voice. From Kimberly Tang's "My Mother's Tze Char" to Joshua Ross's "Wild Venison, Artichoke, and Smoked Deer Milk Purée," the competition highlighted the chefs' abilities to merge technical expertise with personal storytelling. The dishes were evaluated by a distinguished panel of judges, including hospitality luminaries Brent Savage, Brigitte Hafner, Josh Niland, Rosheen Kaul, and Shane Delia. They assessed each dish based on technical skills, creativity, and the chefs' ability to convey a narrative through their creations.

The intense cook-offs mirrored the high-pressure environment of shows like MasterChef, but with an added layer of significance—each dish represented not only the chefs' technical prowess but their culinary identity and vision for the future of gastronomy. The winning dish, KyongHo Choi's "Bacon and Cabbage or Pork and Kimchi," stood out for its deep connection to memory and tradition, artfully expressing Choi's Korean heritage through contemporary techniques.

Following the announcement of Choi's win at the gala dinner, the celebration continued with industry figures, fellow competitors, and guests coming together to honour the achievements of all finalists. The evening was a testament to S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy's mission of fostering the next generation of culinary leaders through mentorship, networking, and global exposure.

As KyongHo Choi prepares for the next stage in Milan, he carries with him not only the hopes of the Pacific Region but a platform to elevate his vision on an international stage. The S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Pacific Finals served as a reminder of the transformative power of gastronomy—one that goes beyond the plate, shaping the future of the culinary world.