The organisation behind The World’s 50 Best Restaurants and The World's 50 Best Bars has unveiled its second ever annual list of young people hailed as the next-generation leaders in gastronomy at an all day live event in Bilbao.
The list, collated in partnership with academic partner the Basque Culinary Center, celebrates people aged 35 and under, or older if they have set out on a new career path, identified as future leaders in food and drink. The list also encompasses the wider scene beyond chefs, from producers and educators to tech creators and activists.
In total, gamechangers from 30 territories across six continents and ranging in age from 22 to 37 made the list. The youngest is 22-year-old Mustapha Diyaol-Haqq, a Ghanaian coder leading the charge for agricultural innovation.
The list is divided into seven categories: Empowering Educators, Entrepreneurial Creatives, Gamechanging Producers, Hospitality Pioneers (supported by S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy), Science Innovators, Tech Disruptors, and Trailblazing Activists.
Legendary chefs Mauro Colagreco, Dominique Crenn and Joan Roca, were also present at the 50 Next event to celebrate the future voices in gastronomy, with a series of presentations, live interviews and interactive panels.
50 Next: Class of 2022
There is no ranking, with all those that appear on the list recognised equally. Take a look at the full list below.
(Where the person’s place of origin differs from their place of residence, this is denoted in brackets).
Empowering Educators
The creative minds transforming society through food-led learning and development
▪ Arielle Johnson, 35 – New York, USA
▪ Charles Michel, 36 – Bogotá, Colombia (from France)
▪ Chloé Charles, 35 – Paris, France
▪ Anusha Murthy, 30, and Elizabeth Yorke, 29 – Bangalore, India
▪ Yi Jun Loh, 29 – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
▪ Vinesh Johny, 33 – Bangalore, India
Entrepreneurial Creatives
Visionary thinkers blending art, culture and culinary creativity, sponsored by Estrella Damm
▪ Camila Fiol Stephens, 34 – Santiago, Chile
▪ Caroline Cotto, 29 – Oakland, USA
▪ Dinara Kasko, 33 – Kharkov City, Ukraine
▪ Juan Pablo Medina, 29 – Copenhagen, Denmark (from Colombia)
▪ Mariana da Silva Vasconcelos, 30 – Campinas, Brazil
▪ Oscar Ekponimo, 36 – Abuja, Nigeria
▪ Travinder Singh, 31 – Singapore
Gamechanging Producers
The farmers, artisans and makers powering the supply chain in innovative ways, sponsored by Choco
▪ Corrado Paternò Castello, 30 – Catania, Italy
▪ Dharath Hoonchamlong, 29 – Bangkok, Thailand
▪ Jessica Naomi Fong, 31 – Hong Kong
▪ Martin Texier, 32 – Saint-Julien-en-Saint-Alban, France
Barcelona’s Disfrutar has been named the best restaurant in the world 2024 by The World’s 50 Best Restaurants with Asador Etxebarri in second place and Table by Bruno Verjus in third.
Looking for new dessert ideas? Try this easy grape cake recipe: learn how to make a soft white grape cake, perfect for your Autumn meals and breakfasts.