Winner of the European Young Chef Award 2023 announced

27.11.2023 - 09:44 / traveldailynews.com / Vicky Karantzavelou

The European Young Chef Award 2023 programme will conclude on 23 November with a visit to the Hauts-de-France region to discover the local gastronomy and producers, including Fromagerie des Freres Bernard in Wierre Effroy, and Brasserie des 2 Caps at the Ferme de Belle Dalle in Tardinghen.

Boštjan Volk from Slovenia, European Region of Gastronomy awarded 2021 was announced European Young Chef for 2023 on 22 November. With his dish Honey Hug, he captivated the international jury chaired by Michelin-starred chef Alexandre Gauthier, official ambassador of Hauts-de-France, European Region of Gastronomy awarded 2023.

Boštjan presented a dessert based on three simple ingredients: honey, pear and walnuts, all provided by local producers: “This dish is first and foremost my tribute to the bees and beekeepers who make life run smoothly in terms of pollination and contribute to good bountiful harvests in the fields of arable farming, fruit growing, and floriculture. The dish is simple and complex at the same time, and it may surprise you with interesting flavours.”

The jury noted that the dish was technically brilliant, delicious and full of different textures, using only three ingredients sourced locally. Boštjan’s message about the importance of bees and honey was moving, his presentation and plating beautiful and he had not one drop of food waste.

The jury congratulated all participants for the high level of sustainability and great emphasis on local producers that have contributed to the quality of each dish. With this level of cooperation everyone is a winner.

From left to right: Louis Barbier, Wendy Barrie, Alessia Fisichella, Paula Frade, Cristina Pons, Pau Sintes, Matias Roisko, Amand P. Veranneman, Dimitrios Mavropoulos, Alexandre Gauthier, Osvaldo Sejas, Tea Vunić, Oskar Krauss, Diane Dodd, Sander Mollerup, Alix Marquant (first chef at La Grenouillere restaurant), Boštjan Volk.

The competition was held at the Lycée Hôtelier du Touquet on 20-24 November 2023 and gathered finalists from 9 awarded and candidate European Regions of Gastronomy including:

Crisitina Pons from Menorca, European Region of Gastronomy awarded 2022 won second prize with the dish Records (Memories). The jury noted that this dish was beautifully and emotionally presented on a hot plate that kept the complex squid roll warm. All the flavours of the traditional dish were intensified in this sophisticated innovation. The surprising aspect of breaking the potato lattice to eat this dish added to its charm.

Third prize went to Sander Mollerup from Central Denmark, European Region of Gastronomy awarded 2017 and his dish The Danish West Coast. The jury thought that this delicately and originally plated dish was a piece of art. A crunchy