The Winners of the World Young Chef Young Waiter 2022 Competition are announced

The World Young Chef Young Waiter 2022 Competition Final took place in Monaco last week. The winners of the World Young Chef Young Waiter (World YCYW) Competition 2022 were announced at a special awards dinner in Monaco on Wednesday night, 16 November, at the Maybourne Riviera Hotel, attended by Prince Albert II of Monaco. 

The Young Chef Young Waiter competition, established in 1979, was relaunched by hospitality experts The Nth Degree Global in 2019 in partnership with UKHospitality and the Restaurant Association. 

In 2021, Young Chef Young Waiter announced a partnership with the Department for International Trade, taking the competition to a global audience.

World YCYW was launched in 2022 to extend the competition around the globe. The competition promotes hospitality as a career of choice, a profession, and a vocation. The competition is open to young chefs and waiters under age 26.

Seven chef and seven waiter finalists from England, the Cayman Islands, Ireland, Macao, Wales, Singapore & Canada gathered for a spectacular one-day event. 

Each country’s chef and the waiter were teamed up to design a winning menu and serve their national dishes to an internationally acclaimed judging panel.

The final was judged by Jason Atherton, Adam Handling, Ching He Huang MBE, Mark Sargeant, Mario Perera, Michael Kwan, Simon King, David Wong and Andy Downton.

The winning chef was Ali Halbert from Heaneys and the winning waiter was Tilly Morris from Grove of Narberth.

Originally from Shropshire, Ali has lived and worked in Switzerland, France, Denmark and Portugal. He now lives and works in Cardiff, Wales at Heaney’s. 

 Ali said: “This competition is so incredible and really helps push the confidence of any young hospitality worker.”

While the winning waiter Tilly Morris studied hospitality at Exeter before working at the Michelin-starred Adare Manor in Ireland. Tilly now lives and works in Wales having joined the Grove as Chef de Rang, before being promoted to Head Waitress.

Tilly was also awarded the most creative cocktail by NEFT Vodka taking home a prize of $1000 for team Wales ($500 each).

“I See the Sea” by Tilly Morris:
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Inspired by Pembrokeshire in Wales and the people Tilly has met. This cocktail bring a little piece of Wales to Monaco
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Neft Vodka, Samphire, Oyster Leaf, Jalapeno Brine, Still Wild Extra Dry Vermouth, Bottle Green Elderflower Cordial & Lime Zest Bitters

Tilly said: “In the next 5 years I see myself developing my strength of knowledge and expertise and progressing up to restaurant manager.”

The winning menu consisted of:

“A little bit of Wales in Monaco”
Starter: “A day out fishing” 
Turbot, Clams, Grape, Beurre Blanc & Laverbread
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Main Course: “Ode to a deer” 
Venison, Artichoke, Plum, Pine & Black Garlic
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Dessert: “Sugarloaf Mountain” 
Acorn, Cremeux, Walnut, White Chocolate & Cep with Blackberries

NEFT Vodka ran a special Cocktail Challenge for the Young Waiter Finalists at the event which was won by Elisa Doisneau from Team England for her cocktail “The Earl’s Garden”, receiving a prize of $1000 for team England ($500 each).

“The Earl’s Garden” by Elisa Doisneau
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In tribute to British culture, transforming the classic ‘tea time’ into ‘drink time’!
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Neft Vodka, Earl Grey Tea, St Germain Liqueur, White Verjus, Peychaud’s Bitter, Salt & Bergamot

You can find out more about The World Young Chef Young Waiter competition here!

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