15 young chefs, 9 countries and 15 stories told through taste, creativity and passion for gastronomy. On October 26 and 27, 2026, Bucharest became the meeting place of a new generation of culinary talents, during the regional final S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Competition. Fragedo He was alongside the young chefs as a local partner, by supporting their talent, courage, and desire to innovate and transform quality ingredients into memorable culinary experiences.
How do you turn an idea into a dish that speaks about you, about the place you come from and about the way you see gastronomy? At the regional final in Bucharest, the young chefs presented dishes that showcased what they had learned and their own beliefs about gastronomy. The international jury evaluated technical skills, creativity and personal vision, watching how each participant managed to translate their idea into a dish.
For them Fragedo, supporting these young people means being close to people who explore new tastes, seek out new combinations, and build their own style in the kitchen. Quality ingredients are the starting point of this process, and knowing them and paying attention to how they are prepared gives every chef the opportunity to bring out their taste and texture, to experiment, and to take a culinary idea further.
Martina Bonello, from Malta, won the regional final and will represent Southern Europe and the Mediterranean area at the grand final in Milan, in 2027. Romania was represented by Ion Bricicari, To whom we extend our congratulations for the talent, creativity and passion with which he has brought Romanian gastronomy to this international competition.
Congratulations to Martina Bonello and all the young chefs who competed, as well as to the mentors who supported them throughout the preparation! The two days in Bucharest brought to the jury prepared dishes that reflected personal experiences, gastronomic roots, and the courage to try new directions.
We thank the organizers and the jury for an event dedicated to the new generation of chefs, and especially, Daniele Sima, For involvement, dedication and the promotion of top gastronomy. We are glad that Fragedo he was part of this meeting and we wish the participants to carry on with their ideas with the same passion with which they presented them in Bucharest.
