The talented young chef will be closely guided by his mentor, Josh Niland, to improve his abilities and be ready to emerge at an international level.
Melbourne, 9th October 2024 – S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy recognised KyongHo (Daniel) Choi as the winner of the competition's Regional Final for the Pacific. He won the title after competing against nine other young chefs in front of a judging panel of Australian hospitality heavyweights at the Crown College on Melbourne's Southbank.
Daniel (who is currently cooking at Omnia, Melbourne, under Chef Stephen Nairn) stood out among the most talented young chefs of the region for his talent, dedication and ambitions, winning a spot at the Grand Finale in 2025. Daniel convinced the renowned Local Jury with his signature dish, 'Bacon and Cabbage or Pork and Kimchi', inspired by his Korean-Irish heritage.
"It has been an absolute honour to cook for such an esteemed panel of judges today. This has been my first competition and so to qualify for the regional finals and compete with a group of such talented chefs has been an incredible experience in itself. I kept my head down in the kitchen and fortunately everything went to plan on the day. To win the award is a proud accomplishment and I'm looking forward to the opportunity to work with Josh (Niland) in the run up to Milan next year" - KyongHo (Daniel) Choi
On his journey to the Grand Finale, Daniel will be supported by a mentor to help him to refine his signature dish and improve his gastronomic skills, preparing the chef for his future career. The mentor will be Josh Niland - the Australian Chef and Restauranteur of Saint Peter (a World's 50 Best Restaurant), Fish Butchery, Peterman Dining and Fysh Singapore.
Three other chefs were also awarded at the Regional Final, winning the collateral awards, and will have the chance to win respective global titles, also announced at the Grand Finale next year:
- S.Pellegrino Social Responsibility Award - Joshua Ross (New Zealand) with his dish: Wild Venison, Artichoke and Smoked Deer Milk Puree
- Acqua Panna Connection in Gastronomy Award - Joshua Ross (New Zealand) with his dish: Wild Venison, Artichoke and Smoked Deer Milk Puree
- Fine Dining Lovers Food for Thought Award - Siriporn Boonsin (NSW) with her dish: Assiette from the Sea
The competition day culminated in a gala dinner at The Lume, where the best of Australia's hospitality industry came together to celebrate and connect with the next generation of culinary talent. Hosted by presenter and MasterChef Australia judge Sofia Levin, guests enjoyed live entertainment from session singer Raleigh Williams and the Scimm. Dance Company. A four course menu included the winning dish from the previous SPYCA Pacific Winner, Robin Wagner: 'Smoked Celeriac with Granny Smith Apple and Crispy Taro'.
To stay updated with announcements and news about the exciting initiative that aims to discover and nurture brilliant, boundary-pushing talents, you can visit:
https://www.sanpellegrinoyoungchefacademy.com/
