S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy announced the 2026-27 Asia regional finals will be held on 20 Oct 2026 at Le Cordon Bleu Dusit Culinary School in Bangkok. Ten finalist chefs from Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam will present signature dishes to compete for the right to represent the region in the 2027 world finals in Milan, scheduled for 18–20 Oct.
Finalist chefs and their mentors will join activities with returning Academy chefs such as William Yee, Ardy Ferguson, and Louis Han to celebrate culinary talent and the ongoing relationships built from each competition. S.Pellegrino connects young chefs with experienced mentors and peers to support skill development and foster lasting professional networks.
The Asia regional judging panel includes Garima Arora from Gaa and Chudaree Tam Debhakam from Baan Tepa in Bangkok; LG Han from Labyrinth and Sun Kim from Meta Restaurant in Singapore; Ryogo Tahara from Logy in Taipei; Sam Tran from Gia in Hanoi; and Luigi Troiano from Noi in Hong Kong.
This panel features several chefs familiar with the Academy returning to support emerging chefs. Garima Arora and Chudaree Tam Debhakam previously judged the Asia regional finals.
LG Han has mentored Xu Yu Chan and William Yee in past competitions, while Sun Kim was mentor to Kevin Wong, the 2019-21 Asia regional winner.
"The Academy provides a platform for young chefs to express their ideas and a community that continues to support them beyond the competition. When chefs return to cook, mentor, or judge, they bring their experience back to this community, helping new chefs advance. We are proud to bring this spirit to Bangkok," said Giacomo Giacani, Asia Pacific Regional Head of Nestlé Waters & Premium Beverages.
Three chefs from previous competitions will cook at the cocktail reception and gala dinner at Dusit Thani Bangkok on 20 Oct, sharing their Academy journey through cuisine. William Yee, the 2024-25 Asia regional winner of the Acqua Panna Connection in Gastronomy Award, will be a guest chef at the cocktail reception. His former mentor LG Han will serve as a judge this year.
At the gala dinner, 2024-25 world champion Ardy Ferguson will cook alongside Louis Han from Nae:um, Singapore. Louis competed in 2017 and later mentored 2022 Asia regional winner Ian Goh, who received the 2023 Fine Dining Lovers Food for Thought Award. Their collaboration reflects the interconnected Academy experience from contestant to mentor to community contributor.
Christian Martena will prepare the welcome dinner at CLARA on 18 Oct. He returns as a mentor, having guided Simone Scarparo, the 2024-25 Asia regional winner of the S.Pellegrino Social Responsibility Award. This year, Christian will mentor Kittitee Kamonnawin, offering a fresh perspective on the Academy journey to this year’s finalists.
Former contestant Gerard Villaret returns as mentor to Patnarin Posiri from Elements, inspired by Ciel Bleu, while Chudapa "Joy" Chansaming, Villaret’s former mentee and 2022-23 Asia regional finalist, will attend as a guest. These ties make Bangkok a meeting point for chefs at various career stages, united by a commitment to sharing experience.
Le Cordon Bleu Dusit Culinary School, hosting the competition, offers an educational environment focused on culinary arts. The school’s kitchens will serve as the stage for finalists to showcase their skills, linking its educational mission with the Academy’s goal to help young chefs develop and express their culinary identities.
Founded in 2007 through a partnership between Le Cordon Bleu International and Dusit International, the school teaches French cuisine and pastry alongside Thai culinary studies. Located at CentralWorld in Bangkok, it combines hands-on learning with expert chef instruction to prepare students for global hospitality careers.
Vegetarian Festival Ms. Natthiya Damkham, Assistant Product Manager for the Mama brand at Sahaphat Phibul Public Company Limited (SPC), said Mama is ready to offer consumers choices during the Vegetarian Festival with a variety of vegetarian Mama products. These include packet flavors such as mushroom and tom yum, and cup varieties like tofu mushroom, tom yum, and tom yum rice noodles, catering to those seeking convenient meal options suited to their tastes and lifestyles.
At the 2026 Yaowarat Vegetarian Festival, visitors can experience the festival atmosphere and sample vegetarian dishes from over 100 restaurants and street food vendors along Yaowarat Road. Highlights include a giant vegetarian wok dish, Dragon Friendship stir-fried noodles, and a cultural parade showcasing Yaowarat’s unique heritage.
For those looking to enhance their Vegetarian Festival meals, stop by the Mama booth at the 2026 Yaowarat Vegetarian Festival from 9–18 Oct to purchase packet and cup Mama vegetarian products with special promotional prices.