Birmingham Opheem restaurant chef reaches final of global competition with The Ritz & Mayfair Kitchen

Birmingham-based chef Ediz of Opheem, Birmingham has reached the UK final of the highly prestigious S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Competition.

The global contest strives to discover and support the most inspiring young chefs around the world. The bi-annual competition and academy aims to push the boundaries of gastronomy and has the support of some of the most celebrated figures in the industry.

Judges of the UK competition this year include Jason Atherton, Francesco Mazzei, Lisa Goodwin Allen, Claude Bosi, Sally Abe, Skye Gyngell, Sat Bains.

Being selected to compete at the UK final, taking place in London on 12 October, means that Ediz joins a shortlist of 10 of the UK’s most promising chefs under 30.

Here’s the full list of finalists and where they work.

·       Harry Van Lierop – Roots, York

·       Ediz Niyazi Engin – Opheem, Birmingham

·       Aaron Blais – The Ritz, London

·       Kristin Reagon – The Barn at Finnlough Hideaway, Northern Ireland

·       Joshua Wilde – The Hand and Flowers, Marlow

·       Marcus Clayton – Hide and Fox, Saltwood

·       Swann Auffray – The Great House, Lavenham

·       Imogen Parrish – The Hind’s Head, Maidenhead

·       Yogesh Yadav – Mayfair Kitchen, London

·       Chris Wang – Le Gavroche, London

Why has Ediz been nominated as a finalist for the S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Competition?

Ediz impressed an international judging panel, rising to the top of thousands of applications from all over the world who were inspired to enter the competition to share their vision and connect with the most influential people in the gastronomic world.

A passionate, curious and dedicated chef, Ediz started his hospitality journey seven years ago as a member of the front of house team to earn money alongside his degree. His passion for food grew beyond what he expected, and after having his first meal at a Michelin Starred restaurant in Birmingham, he realised that a career as a chef was what he wanted.

Ediz worked hard to get a role at Birmingham Michelin Guided restaurant The Wilderness, where he stayed for three years and learnt all of the skills he has today, before joining the Michelin starred restaurant Opheem.

What has Ediz said about his nomination?

Speaking about his nomination Ediz added: “Being a part of this competition is a dream for me. It was a key dream of mine, and one that I often thought about during lockdown. I’m so excited to share my signature dish with the jurors and get their honest opinions, and to meet the rest of the finalists. We are just at the beginning of the journey, but I firmly believe the experience I will gain from the competition will prepare me to be a better chef.”

At the UK final in October, ten finalists will present their signature dishes to the renowned jury panel who will judge the candidates’ signature dishes and select the winners of the four awards.

The Young Chefs announced as official finalists of the four awards will move on to the Grand Finale that will take place in Milan in 2023. Throughout the months, each finalist will be accompanied by Mentor Chefs, who will provide them with guidance on how to improve their signature dishes and support them in their preparation for the international finals.

To discover the full list of candidates and know more about the initiative please visit: San Pellegrino Young Chef Academy

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