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Erick Alfredo Bautista Chacon has been named the best young chef in Latin America and the Caribbean, following two days of competitive cooking at Universidad de la Sabana in Bogotá for the regional heat of S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Competition 2022-23, held on 19-20 September.
Bautista, from Huniik in Mexico, beat 13 other young talents with his winning dish, 'Oaxaca su tierra y sus manos', to be named overall S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Award winner. He will now represent the region at the Grand Finale in 2023, mentored by chef and businesswoman Lula Martin del Campo, enabling him to get one step closer to his dreams of becoming a chef that champions the land.
“S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Competition was an incredible experience, where I was able to meet amazing people and get to know my coach, Rodolfo Castellanos, who opened the doors of his restaurant to me. I will always be grateful to him,” said Bautista of his win.
In the first regional heat of this edition, three other chefs also managed to cook their way to victory in front of the local jury of professional chef judges, made up of Arlette Eulert, Helena Rizzo, Debora Fadul, Rodolfo Guzmán and Lula Martín del Campo.
Xchel González, from México, was awarded the S.Pellegrino Award for Social Responsibility by the Sustainable Restaurant Association for his signature dish, 'Chinampas'.
Aranxa Troestch, from Panama, moves closer to her professional dream of opening a kitchen giving women greater visibility, after winning the Acqua Panna Award for Connection in Gastronomy, thanks to her signature dish, 'Ubaldina'.
And María Guadalupe Elizeche, from Paraguay, was voted winner of the Fine Dining Lovers Food for Thought Award by our online community, for the thought process behind her signature dish, 'Mi Evolución de Nuestra Cultura'.
The three will also go to the Grand Finale, where they will be eligible to win the global award in each category.
The regional final event also hosted the 'Brain Food' forum, with lively conversation around taste and creativity, hosted by journalist Paola Miglio. She was joined by all five local jurors and special guests Karissa Becerra, Sebastian Pinzón and Xrysw Ruelas. The event was curated by Fine Dining Lovers and was first launched during the Grand Finale of S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Competition 2019-21.
Discover the winners of the regional finals
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