Chef Chutaree Tam Tepakham from Baan Tepa participated in assessing technical skills, creativity, and personal philosophy conveyed through the food. Finalists came from restaurants in Hong Kong SAR, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The three-day event in Bangkok also offered young chefs opportunities to collaborate with mentor chefs and exchange experiences with judges and senior chefs returning for the event.
"For young chefs, developing a dish is a process of discovering what they want to communicate through food. Technical skills are important, as is understanding the ingredients and the people behind them. Bringing chefs from across Asia together creates space to exchange perspectives, learn from one another, and apply those lessons in their own kitchens."
Giacomo Giacani, Asia Pacific Head of Nestlé Waters & Premium Beverages, said the talent displayed in Bangkok highlights why investing in young chefs’ development matters. The competition provides a platform for them to showcase their skills, but the Academy’s role doesn’t end with awarding prizes. Connecting finalists with mentor chefs, judges, and senior chefs helps build relationships that nurture idea development and career progress. We look forward to supporting Isamu as he prepares to represent Asia in the Grand Finale.
The winning signature menu, Matsuri: Celebrating Nature, Community, and Abundance, draws inspiration from Japan’s Satoyama culture and the coexistence of humans and nature, conveying stories of festivals and harvest traditions.
It also highlights the collaboration that sustains rural communities, linking a food vision with the ecosystem that provides the ingredients. Sakaguchi competed under the guidance of Shota Itoi from Auberge eaufeu, his regional mentor chef.
Leong Chan from Cristal Room by Anne-Sophie Pic in Hong Kong SAR won first runner-up with the dish Eight Treasure Pigeon, Beauty of Dried Seafood, mentored by Antonio Au. Jiwoo Lee from Zén in Singapore took second runner-up with Between Two Homes: Whole Hairtail, guided by mentor chef Jong-won Son.
Isamu Sakaguchi said, "For Matsuri, I wanted to honor the relationship between nature and community that sustains our food culture. Receiving this award is a great honor. I thank my mentor chef Shota Itoi for his guidance and all the chefs I met here for sharing ideas and experiences. I look forward to further developing this menu and sharing its story on the Grand Finale stage."
The seven regional judges evaluated each dish’s technical skill, creativity, and personal philosophy expressed through the food. They included Garima Arora from Gaa, Chudaree “Tam” Debhakam from Baan Tepa, LG Han from Labyrinth, Sun Kim from Meta Restaurant, Ryogo Tahara from Logy, Sam Tran from Gia, and Luigi Troiano from Noi.
Three additional awards honored the finalists’ unique identities and culinary concepts. The S.Pellegrino Social Responsibility Award went to Soyoon Kwon from L’amant Secret in Seoul, South Korea, selected by the Sustainable Restaurant Association.
The Acqua Panna Connection in Gastronomy Award was given to Leong Chan from Cristal Room by Anne-Sophie Pic in Hong Kong SAR, chosen by the competition’s mentor chefs.
The Fine Dining Lovers Award went to Ai Ichinose from SOLUNA in Tokyo, Japan, selected by Fine Dining Lovers Insiders.
The event began on 18 October with a welcome dinner at CLARA hosted by Chef Christian Martena and his team. Christian’s ongoing involvement clearly connects this evening to the Academy’s mentorship story. He previously mentored Simone Scarparo, who won the S.Pellegrino Social Responsibility Award for Asia in 2024–25, and returned this year as mentor to Kittitee Kamonnawin from CLARA. The dinner provided a chance for chefs, mentors, and guests to get acquainted ahead of the competition.
On 19 October, a panel discussion with chefs at Le Cordon Bleu Dusit explored their career experiences and philosophies, using S.Pellegrino’s SPARK questions as a starting point for exchanging views. This allowed participants to share insights and learn from each other outside the competitive kitchen.
That evening’s dinner at Blue Elephant Sukhumvit strengthened bonds between experienced and young chefs, featuring the Blue Elephant team, Chef Gerard Villaret, and former finalist Chudapa Joy Chansaming, a 2022–23 Asia regional finalist. Gerard returned this year as mentor to Patnarin Posiri from Elements, inspired by Ciel Bleu, reflecting how relationships formed through the Academy continue to grow across competition generations.
Senior Academy chefs contributed to the closing night on 20 October. William Yee, 2024–25 Asia regional winner of the Acqua Panna Connection in Gastronomy Award, helped create the welcome cocktail, while Ardy Ferguson, 2024–25 global winner, partnered with Louis Han from Nae:um, Singapore, to craft the gala dinner menu.
Louis first competed in 2017 before becoming mentor to Ian Goh, 2022 Asia regional winner and 2023 global Fine Dining Lovers Food for Thought Award recipient. The return of these chefs, alongside ongoing mentorship by Christian and Gerard, shows how the Academy fosters learning, growth, and experience sharing to support the next generation of chefs.
S.Pellegrino thanks all sponsors and partners supporting the Asia regional final, especially CLARA and Chef Christian Martena, Peroni, Le Cordon Bleu Dusit Culinary School, and Blue Elephant Sukhumvit. Support from invited chefs, mentors, judges, trade partners, and distributors enabled the Academy community to come together in Bangkok. Thanks are also extended to Dusit Thani Bangkok for hosting the awards ceremony and gala dinner.
, Award Presentation: Thai Life Insurance Public Company Limited was represented by Mr. Rachen Phadungporn, Director of Personnel Development, who received a certificate for promoting financial and investment knowledge among employees for 2026 under the Financial Well-being in Workplace program. The award was presented by Professor Dr. Pronong Bussaratrakul, Secretary-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, at the Army Club on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road.
Receiving this certificate reflects Thai Life Insurance’s commitment to enhancing employees’ financial knowledge and investment skills, alongside promoting good financial well-being. They have developed curricula and activities that fully meet SEC standards to strengthen personal financial planning and management capabilities, aiming to improve quality of life and long-term financial security, aligned with talent development and sustainable organizational goals.
heytea LISA, global pop icon and BLACKPINK member, and heytea, pioneer of new-style tea, officially launched their global collaboration today. They introduced the Mango Coconut Sticky Rice drink at participating heytea outlets in China, Hong Kong, Macau, Thailand, and other markets worldwide. The collaboration also features LISA’s portrait in heytea’s distinctive line art style, limited-edition packaging, and special merchandise for fans.