A leading Hospitality competition for young chefs, waiters and mixologists will be returning to Wales on September 8 and 9 to uncover the country’s best talent.
The World Young Chef Young Waiter Young Mixologist (YYY) 2024 competition is open to chefs, waiters and mixologists from any hospitality establishment who are 28 or under and are currently living and working in Wales.
The Wales regional heat, hosted by the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) in Swansea, will discover the best young chef, young waiter, and mixologist in Wales, who will go forward to compete as a team in the world championship held in Singapore this autumn for the chance to win $15,000.
Dr Jayne Griffith-Parry, Academic Director of Hospitality and Tourism Management courses at UWTSD and Wales competition lead for YYY, said:
“I’m delighted that UWTSD once again brings this prestigious competition to Wales, and that we are able to promote all the great young talent in Welsh hospitality, giving them the opportunity to compete on the global stage.
“This year’s judges are an incredibly talented group of industry influencers, who are already an inspiration for many young Welsh hospitality professionals. Competitors who reach the regional heats will receive personalised feedback from these judges throughout the day, which is invaluable for their development.”
The University offers a wide range of leading Hospitality and Tourism Management courses alongside hosting the World Young Chef Young Waiter competition. These industry-focused courses, which include International Gastronomy Management, Hospitality and Hotel Management and Events and International Festivals Management can be taken at undergraduate and postgraduate level, with options for in-person or distance learning, and full- or part-time study.
The regional competition for Wales will be held at the University’s Dylan Thomas Centre and the Swansea.com stadium in the northeast of the city.
Candidates will be offered workshops and educational talks on the first day, followed by the competition activity culminating in a lunch served to judges on the second day, and a gala awards ceremony in the evening.
This year’s competition has amassed attention from some of the country’s most high-profile Hospitality professionals, who, alongside judging, will offer advice and expertise to competitors, who will benefit from this professional mentorship and a new network of peers.
This year’s chef judges are Hywel Griffith of the Beach House Oxwich, Tom Barnes of Skof Manchester, Martyn Guest of Swansea City AFC and Kevin Hodson of UWTSD.
The judges for the waiter category are Lola Villard- Coles UWTSD, Christophe Stocker from Pembrokeshire College, Richard Littleton, Cardiff and Vale College, and Huw Morgan from Coleg Ceredigion
The Mixology judges are Paul Robinson, Chief Creative Officer of Neft Vodka, James Thomas of Compass Cymru/Levy, Louis Jones, Head Mixologist at Altitude 28, and Josh Brown, Head Distiller at Hensol Gin.
Dr Griffith-Parry added:
“This is an excellent opportunity for professionals living and working in Wales to fast track their careers and showcase their skills to the country’s leading restaurant professionals. Last year, the winners of the Welsh regional competition, Sam Everton from Coleg Ceredigion and Carys Webster of the Grove, Narberth (pictured) represented Wales at the world championships in Monaco and placed joint third.”
The finalists for this year’s competition are:
Wales Young Mixologist of the Year
- James Borley of The Dead Canary, Cardiff
- Ellen Budd of Penny, Cardiff
- Valentin Kanev of Zerodegrees, Cardiff
- Gabriel Watkins of Golf Fang, Cardiff
Wales Young Chef of the Year
- Dalton Weir of The Toad, Colwyn Bay, North Wales
- Jordan Newton of The Beach House, Oxwich, Swansea
- Rob Griffiths of Penmaenuchaf Hotel, Dolgellau, Gwynedd
- Alex Dunham of The Whitebrook, Monmouth
Wales Young Waiter of the Year
- Jack Williams of Penmaenuchaf Hotel, Dollgellau, Gwynedd
- Luke Merry of The Grove, Narbeth
- Enes Hatipoglu of the Celtic Collection, Newport
- Silvio Lisciandrelli of The Beach House, Oxwich, Swansea
