2017 will see the preliminary selection rounds and the local competitions take place, followed by the grand final in June 2018, where finalists will compete for the S.Pellegrino Young Chef 2018 title.

S.Pellegrino Young Chef 2016 winner, Mitch Lienhard of the United States, said: “The experience has provided many unforgettable moments so far, and I am thankful for the impact the title will have on my career. I look forward to continuing my work with S.Pellegrino, to help find the culinary world’s best new talent and serving as a mentor for future competitors.”

This year sees ‘Central America–Caribbean’ added to the range of geographical regions included within the competition, meaning the final contestants will hail from 21 different areas from across the globe.

Previous winners include Ireland based Mark Moriarty who won in 2015.