Marcus Gericke, Head Chef at Le Coin Français in Franschhoek, is representing Africa and the Middle East in the 2021 S. Pellegrino Young Chef of the Year competition taking place in October.

Chef Marcus faces stiff competition from eleven other regions’ chefs,  and voting has opened to choose the world’s best Young Chef for 2021. The winner will be announced on 28 – 30 October, during the Grand Finale of the S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy 2021.  A Fine Dining Livers Food for Thought Award 2021 can be won by one of the Young Chef Finalists too. 

The 12 Young Chefs competition finalists were chosen by online voting in their respective regions, presenting dishes ‘for best representing their personal philosophy’.  Even though the official communication does not mention this, the winning Young Chef of the Year will be selected by a panel of international chefs after a cook out.

The Top 12 S. Pellegrino Young Chef Finalists are the folloeimg:

#.   Marcus Gericke Dish name: Remembrance (Quail Consommé), representing Africa and Middle East region. (Dish Photograph above). He motivated his dish as follows:

‘While growing up my father (who was also a chef) and I took up a lot of hobbies together, gardening being one of them, so this dish is just some of the many ingredients that grew in our garden. This dish always brings a smile to my face, as it reminds me of the valuable lessons he taught me. This dish is very close to my heart as it reminds me to be proud of my heritage and to never forget where I come from’.

#. Nicolas Fagundas Galindo Dish name: Flavours and Textures of Palm and Ox Tongue, from Ireland, representing UK, and Northern Europe region

#.  Ingrid Gonçalves Dish name: Between the Flavours, from Hong Kong and representing the Greater China region

#.  Krzysztof Konicczny Dish name: Jerusalem Artichoke ‘Fish’, from Poland, representing Central Europe region (Photograph right)

#. Evens Lopez Dish name Warm Blue Lobster, Truffle Wheat Bread, Seafood Flavour and Stuffed Artichoke, from Monaco, representing North West Europe region.

#.  Egor Makarov Dish name Russian Seafood, from Russian Federation, representing Euro Asia region (Photograph left)

#.  Marvin Palomo Dish name Dungeness Crab Chowanmushi, from Canada, representing North America region

#. Andrea Ravasio Dish name El Domingo Del Campesino, from Spain, representing Iberian and Mediterranean region

#. Antonio Romano Dish name Roma Locuta, from Italy, representing Italy and South East Europe

#.  Karan Upmanyu Dish name Shades of the Desert, from India, representing Asia region(photograph right)

#.  Eliodoro Xicum Cobá Dish name Nohoch Ná (Tamale of gizzards cooked in ash), from Mexico, representing Latin America region.

We wish all the 2021 Young Chef finalists the best of luck, and to Chef Marius Gericke from Franschhoek in particular.

 

Click here to vote by 24 October 2021: https://www.sanpellegrinoyoungchef.com/finedininglovers-award/

 

Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.chrisvonulmenstein.com/blog Tel +27 082 55 11 323 Twitter:@Ulmenstein Facebook: Chris von Ulmenstein, My Cape Town Guide/Mein Kapstadt Guide Instagram: @Chrissy_Ulmenstein @MyCapeTownGuide