By now you might have read about the exciting buildup to this year’s S.Pellegrino Young Chef 2018 awards, which will take place this weekend on 12 and 13 May in Milan, Italy. 21 talented young chefs from all around the world will be taking the stage to showcase their culinary skills and creativity. Among them is South Africa’s very own young gun chef, Vusumuzi Ndlovu.

Chef Vusi, while working under the mentorship of DW Eleven-13’s Marthinus Ferreira, won the San Pellegrino Young Chef 2018 Africa and Middle East semi-final, which in turn has him competing for the ultimate title in Milan this week. Vusi has worked alongside heavy-hitting SA chefs such as Candice Phillip, David Higgs and Peter Tempelhoff, and has been heading up the kitchen at Joburg’s Marabi Jazz Club, where he practised for the S.Pellegrino Young Chef finals.

Vusumuzi will be cooking this weekend in Milan for the ultimate title. Photo courtesy of S.Pellegrino.

The signature dish that got him to the finals? It goes by the name ‘Isicupho’, which is a dish based on his childhood, comprising aged duck, grains, and variations of pumpkin.

The final leg of the international competition will see the chefs preparing and presenting their signature dish to a jury of seven international judges. Known as the Seven Sages, the impressive group includes the likes of Virgilio Martìnez, Margarita Forés, Brett Graham, Annie Féolde, Dominique Crenn, Ana Ros and Paul Paret. The ultimate winner will then be chosen after extensive evaluation based on the criteria of the five ‘Golden Rules’ of ingredients, skill, genius, beauty and message.

The 2016 S. Pellegrino Young Chef of the Year. Photo supplied.

Eat Out is lucky enough to be in Milan for the event and will cover it and Vusi’s journey throughout the competition. Follow Eat Out on Instagram and Twitter for all the live action and follow the hashtag #SPYoungChef for more updates.