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Robin Wagner has been recognised as the Best Young Chef in the Pacific. He beat nine other young chefs in the regional final of S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy 2022-23 at the Sydney Seafood School on 17 October 2022.
Wagner's signature vegetarian dish of 'celeriac, granny smith apple and crispy taro' was enough to convince the local chef jury of Jacqui Challinor (NOMAD), Josh Niland (Saint Peter) and Peter Gilmore (Quay Restaurant), that he should continue to next year's Grand Finale. He will represent Australia and New Zealand, supported and mentored by Scott Huggins (pictured right below).
"What I think really impressed us about Robin's dish was the depth of flavour and texture from simple and humble ingredients - celeriac, tarot and apple - that danced across the palate in a balance of textures, flavours and temperatures. It’s an outstanding dish, the kind that you’d find in a restaurant, and you’d come back to have it again and again,” said judge Peter Gilmore.
Photo: Celeriac, granny smith apple and crispy taro
Three other young chefs in the competition were also recognised with collateral awards at the Pacific regional final. Each of the three will now be eligible to win the global award at the competition's Grand Finale next year.
Alexis Belmas won the S.Pellegrino Award for Social Responsibility, selected by the Sustainable Restaurant Association, with his dish 'Western Breeze Over Oz'.
Jackson Mehlhopt was awarded the Acqua Panna Award for Connection in Gastronomy, with his dish, 'The Southern Kiwi Deer And Its Surroundings'.
And Leidy Carolina Maldonado Ramirez was awarded the Fine Dining Lovers Community Award, as voted for by readers, with her dish, 'Ensalda de Payaso “Clown Salad"'.
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