Three Dubai chefs shortlisted for the S. Pellegrino Young Chef 2016 regional competition

Gregoire Berger Recipe. Courtesy of young Chef 2016

Three Dubai-based chefs are a step closer to being named the world’s best young chef this year.

Chef Eka Mochamad at Bateaux Dubai, Chef Gregorie Berger at Restaurant Ossiano Fine Dining - Atlantis The Palm and Sous Chef Michael O’Shea at The Ivy Dubai have been shortlisted to compete in the regional round of the S. Pellegrino Young Chef 2016 competition in South Africa on July 26.

The annual competition is sponsored by the sparkling water company S. Pellegrino to encourage and promote emerging talent and a fine dining culture around the world.

Young chefs from more than 90 countries submitted their application, along with their signature dishes and were whittled down based on ingredients, skills, genius, beauty and message by ALMA, an international education and training centre for Italian cuisine.

The winning chef in South Africa will join 19 finalists from other regions for the final round in Milan on October 13. The finalists will sweat it out in front of a stove for two days of cooking for the Seven sages jury, with judges David Higgs, Carlo Cracco, Gaggan Anand, Elena Arzak, Mauro Colagreco, Wylie Dufresne and Roberta Sudbrack at the table.

Follow the competition with the hashtag #SPYoungChef on social media.​