The 2023 MYBA Superyacht Chefs’ Competition was a celebration of culinary excellence and creativity, with the theme of “Foraged Fare” challenging participating chefs to create a three-course guest dinner party using as much foraged food as possible. The competition called upon chefs to incorporate a minimum of two foraged items in each dish, which could be gathered at the time of the competition or over time, preserved in any way, and sourced from a variety of wild edibles such as mushrooms, berries, fruits, greens, roots, nuts, seeds, seaweed, fish, and shellfish.
Moreover, the competition also included a Tablescaping challenge for the chief steward/esses to prepare a rustic dinner party table setting using elements of foraged and upcycled items in their decor. The challenge allowed judges to guess which elements had been foraged and which had been upcycled, highlighting creativity and sustainability.
The competition was divided into three categories based on the size of the yacht and number of crew, with a maximum of eight yachts in each category. The chefs were allowed 35 minutes to serve their three-course dinner party to a panel of Michelin-starred chef judges, providing five plates of each course for the judges and one for photography. A printed menu had to be provided for each judge highlighting the foraged items and where they were sourced.
The chief steward/esses were required to attend a briefing along with the chefs, and the judges evaluated the tablescaping competition based on elegance, innovation, jaw-dropping presentations, and expert execution.
The competition was a resounding success, with superyacht chefs showcasing their culinary prowess and creativity. Judges were impressed by the effort put into sourcing the ingredients, which were documented by some chefs in scrapbooks with photographs and videos.
The winners of the Chefs’ Competition are:
51m and over
1st place – Mary San Pablo “Marala”
2nd place – Daniel Stoma “RoMa”
3rd place – Giuseppe Massimo Autuori “Spirit of the C’s”
30 to 50m
1st place – Juan Carlos Gutièrrez “Hemabejo”
2nd place – Andres Sanabria “Figurati”
3rd place – Olivia Smith “Heerlijckheid”
29m and under
1st place – Natalia Sánchez “Viva la Vida”
2nd place – Karlo Mandiƈ “Kajikia”
3rd place – Carlos Manuel Acosta “Apollo I”
The winners of the Tablescaping Competition
51m and over
1st place – Vesna Coklo & Fabi Ortac “RoMa”
30 to 50m
Viviana Gabor “Curiosity”
29m and under
Leisha Taylor “Viva La Vida”
The competition was a testament to the incredible talent and skill of the participating chefs and chief steward/esses, and it was an honor to witness such exceptional work. Congratulations to all!
Marine Project is an international full-service yachting company specializing in luxury yacht charter, marinas & moorings, and the sale of special purpose properties.
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