The 2024 World Young Chef Young Waiter and Young Mixologists (YYY) World Finals were held in Singapore from 22nd to 24th November 2024. The Champions of the prestigious competition were announced at The Exchange by Tadcaster Hospitality in Singapore. The announcements were made by Robert Walton MBE and Nikesh Mehta, the British High Commissioner to Singapore, during a special awards ceremony on the 24th November. Each of the three winners received a share of the $15,000 USD grand prize.
We are delighted to announce that the Champion of the World Young Chef Young Waiter and Young Mixologist competition are:
Team USA
The Champion Chef is Thomas Mendel from Hamel.
The Champion Waiter is Jaclyn Bisantz from The Harbor House Inn.
The Champion Mixologist is Marco Guillen from Four Seasons Napa Valley.
“I had a great experience, and definitely was challenged on the main day of the competition. In all honesty, we weren’t sure if we were going to win, but we were proud of what we accomplished nonetheless!” – Thomas Mendel from Hamel.
“Being a part of World YYY has given me the opportunity to truly understand myself as a service professional on a deeper level. It has been an enlightening experience, revealing my ability to navigate new and unfamiliar territories within the hospitality industry. This competition fosters a space that is supportive, imaginative, and educational, where a culture of encouragement thrives from the very start. The synergy created by everyone involved is a true testament to the collective strength we share. Bringing home the gold to the USA alongside Thomas and Marco was an incredibly invigorating moment, but even more so, it was humbling. Given the exceptional talent that World YYY continues to nurture, I am confident that the years ahead will be filled with extraordinary success and unparalleled achievements.” – Jaclyn Bisantz from The Harbor House Inn.
“The experience was interesting. Felt lots of pressure coming in but once competition day came, I felt calm and confident in the abilities needed to perform. I feel extremely lucky to have shared the stage with other talented individuals and, although we won through the scorecards, I see lots of talent rising that I hope to see again next year or the near future.” – Marco Guillen from Four Seasons Napa Valley.
The world champions were chosen from nine Young Chefs, nine Young Waiters, and nine Young Mixologists, each aged 28 and under, from nine participating countries. Finalists were judged by a panel of esteemed culinary experts, food critics, and industry leaders. Among the esteemed chef judges were Dave Pynt, Kirk Westaway, Mark Wee, Paul Longworth, Angela May, Gibran Bayoun, Andy Downton, Rob Edwards, Sarissa Rodriquez- Schwartz, Luke Barr, Paul Robinson, and Julian Burgur.
Second place: Team Thailand
Chef Suriyan Pleejan from Eat me restaurant
Waiter Natcha Chuwong from Blue By Alain Ducasse
Mixologist Supakorn Tapaneeyachok from View Bankgkok Rooftop Bar & Restaurant Novotel Bangkok Platinum
Third place: Team Wales
Chef Alex Dunham from The Whitebrook
Waiter Jack Williams from Penmaenuchaf Hotel
Mixologist James Borley from The Dead Canary
Congratulations to all finalists who competed in the 2024 WorldYYY finals. Their achievements not only brought glory to their respective countries but also provided a unique opportunity to connect with and learn from talented individuals in the hospitality industry.
The YYY World Final 2024 has been a spectacular showcase of global talent in the hospitality industry. The competition kicked off with an exciting welcome and educational day, which was later followed by an Opening Ceremony on November 22nd at the Oculus, the newly renovated event space at the Pullman Singapore Hill Street.
During the educational day, finalists explored the vibrant Maxwell Food Centre and embarked on an enriching Foodie Tour, expertly led by Chef Mag Tang from Mag’s Wine Kitchen at the request of Denise Matthijsse and Allana Laws. Chef Mag Tang was joined by Ian Tan, the 2023 winner in the Chef category, who provided valuable insights and added to the experience. The finalists also enjoyed an exclusive Tanglin Gin Distillery tour and tasting, gaining insights into Singapore’s local flavours and craft spirit production.
On Saturday, November 23rd, the competition officially began with the thrilling Team Market Basket Challenge at the iconic Tiong Bahru Wet Market. In the afternoon, individual YYY teams delivered engaging presentations at Alma House, showcasing their culinary identities and service philosophies. These presentations allowed participants to share their unique narratives, blending personal stories with their visions for redefining hospitality and leaving a lasting impression on the judges.
The main competition day on Sunday, November 24th, was a thrilling culmination of skill, creativity, and collaboration. Hosted at At-Sunrice GlobalChef Academy, Chefs undertook the formidable Wet Market to Table Challenge, crafting a snack and three-course menu from scratch in just 3.5 hours. Meanwhile, waiters demonstrated precision and finesse in a wine masterclass, creative table setups, and service challenges. Mixologists took on the Mystery Challenge, followed by the highly anticipated social media NEFT Vodka Challenge, showcasing visually captivating creations that elevated the competition to new heights.
We are grateful for the generous support of our esteemed sponsors and partners, including GREAT Campaign, NEFT Vodka, Pullman Hill Street, Accor, At-Sunrice, Tadcaster Hospitality, Champagne PIAFF, Alma House, and Tanglin Gin, Lyre’s, Burnt Ends Bakery, Indigo Wine, and PPC Coffee.
Quotations:
Robert Walton MBE, Chairman of World Young Chef Young Waiter and Young Mixologist: “Congratulations to team YYY USA for taking home the 2024 WorldYYY Championships and everyone else who has competed and represented their country on a global stage. I am so proud of how the competition continues to highlight the young, up-and-coming talent in our exciting industry. This year has truly been exciting with India and Thailand being welcomed to the YYY Family and the world finals being hosted in Singapore for the first time ever. Thank you to everyone who was involved and who has supported this competition. Thank you, Singapore, for being such a great host. I look forward to 2025 and to counite to support young talent in the hospitality industry.”
Pullman Singapore Hill Street said: “Since its debut last October, Pullman Singapore Hill Street has quickly emerged as a rising market leader in hospitality and F&B, committed to fostering creativity and growth within the industry. Hosting YYY Singapore 2024 at MOGA and EL CHIDO last month, followed by the World YYY Opening Ceremony at Oculus last week, provided us with the privilege of celebrating the exceptional young talents shaping the future of our field. As we announce the winners today, we honor their remarkable achievements and eagerly anticipate their continued contributions to the industry.”
Paul Robinson COO from NEFT Vodka said: This World Finals was exceptionally special for me. Last year there were only 4 mixologists attached to the competition and now there are nine, completely integrated into the competition. It was a fantastic site to see all of these talented finalists in one room on a global stage.
About YYY
Since its establishment in 1979, the Young Chef Young Waiter competition has continued to promote hospitality as a career of choice, a profession, and a vocation. Today, with its new revitalised format Young Chef Young Waiter continues to honour the next culinary and service stars globally. World Young Chef Young Waiter, in partnership with Great Campaign UK and Northern Ireland and the Culinary Institute of America, mission to discover the best young talents in the industry. The competition is open to Young Chefs and waiters under the age of 28 from diverse backgrounds and YYY ensures these young talents are equipped with relevant skills, current knowledge, and a network to help them succeed in the world of hospitality.
In 2022, the competition marked a significant milestone by expanding its reach to a global audience, with participants from seven countries striving for the title of World Young Chef Young Waiter Champion. Building on this success, the competition returned in 2024, reaffirming its commitment to supporting the global hospitality industry and providing an expansive stage for the cultivation of creativity, education, and innovation that knows no geographical bounds, the event promises to surpass all previous iterations in size, quality, and sustainability.