Euro-toques Young Chef of the Year Competition 2012

Ireland’s top chefs launched the nationwide search for Young heroes of Irish cooking through the Euro-toques Young Chef of the Year competition. Ross Lewis, Kevin Thornton, Mary Ryan, Gearoid Lynch and Eleanor Walsh together with Euro-toques are calling out to ALL YOUNG CHEFS in Ireland, aged 18-26, to enter the competition that could change their culinary careers. Young Chefs from any type of establishment can now enter the competition via a simple online entry system at youngchef.ie

In association with Failte Ireland, the competition aims to search for Ireland’s Young Food Heroes that can contribute to developing Irish cooking and promoting it at home and abroad. Talent, enthusiasm and passion for Irish food are all on the menu for the 22nd year of the competition that aims to illustrate that good Irish food can come from any gastronomic background. All stages of the competition promote Euro-toques principles of local and seasonal sourcing and aims to get Young Chefs thinking about “What Irish Cooking means today”

Speaking at the launch Gearoid Lynch, President Euro-toques Ireland, Chef/Proprietor The Olde Post Inn, Co. Cavan and Young Chef 2000 said,

Our vision for this competition is to evoke the feeling of pride and thoughts of excellence when people think about Irish cooking and food. Irish culinary skills are developing at a fast rate and for this reason chefs need to be nurtured from a young age. Young Chef of the Year aims to do just that while promoting and supporting local produce at the same time.

Closing date for online entries is September 26th. At each stage of the competition, candidates will be whittled down and the next task revealed. 5 Finalists will be announced early November and showcased at an exciting Pop up event in Dublin’s City Centre. The final of the Euro-toques Young Chef of the Year will take place on November 25th and the winner will be revealed at an exclusive mystery event. Members of the public will have the chance to win tickets to both events by logging onto www.youngchef.ie or via Facebook and Twitter.

Judges for the final will include Dublin born Guest Chef Trevor Moran, Sous Chef at Restaurant Noma, Copenhagen that holds two Michelin stars and was voted best restaurant in the world by Restaurant magazine for 3 years running (2010, 2011, 2012). The Euro-Toques Young Chef of the Year will win an all -expenses paid stage in a top international restaurant, amongst other exciting opportunities.

Commenting about his role in the competition Trevor Moran, Sous Chef, Noma, Copenhagen and Guest Judge for Young Chef 2012 said

I am really excited to be involved in this competition and see young chefs using the incredible products we have available in Ireland, both wild and cultivated. We have the advantage of a huge choice of amazing seafood, flavourful meat, and fantastic wild plants in Ireland. We need to take pride in all this and showcase it in Irish cooking, that’s what this competition is all about.

Speaking at the launch last week, Kamil Dubanik, 2011 Young Chef of the Year and Senior Chef de Partie at Knockranny House commented,

The competition was a great experience while giving me an opportunity to prove my skills. While having an unforgettable time during the competition I also learned huge lessons that will stand to me during my career. Taking part in the Euro-toques Young Chef of the Year was the biggest challenge in my life so far, but well worth it as I got to meet great people from this industry that share my passion for working with only the best food products.

For more competition Info and online entry form at www.youngchef.ie