Friday, April 5, 2024
Paulo Ucha Longhin, from the M/Y Hercules spanning 50 meters, clinched victory at the 5th Superyacht Chef Competition. Held under the banner of ‘Monaco, Capital of Advanced Yachting’, this event unfolded at the esteemed Yacht Club de Monaco, in collaboration with Bluewater and under the auspices of YCM’s La Belle Classe Academy training center. This globally recognized celebration of seafaring gastronomy highlights a pivotal facet of yacht-related professions.
Paulo Ucha Longhin has been cooking for 25 years and he started his journey on yachts after Covid. He is currently working on board the 50 metre long motor yacht Hercules. He won the competition with a main course of lobster and a dessert of strawberries and mascarpone cream. “I’m so happy. I was a little stressed but in a good way and as soon as I get to the kitchen I forget about everything and give my best while doing my job. Time of course is an issue, you have to manage but if you start the round being well prepared and organised, then you can really make it work”, said the Brazilian chef. Second place went to Ava Faulkner (M/Y Light Holic – 60m) and the bronze medal was assigned to Mateusz Mitka (M/Y Lady Britt – 63m).
Three tight rounds took the competitors to the grand finale of excellence. The 9 participants had to deal with a mystery basket and ‘last-minute’ ingredients chosen by the public. Chairing the 2024 edition was chef Glenn Viel. The three Michelin star chef promotes eco-responsible cuisine at the Oustau de Baumanière gourmet restaurant. Passionate about local products, Viel is renowned for combining his Breton roots with Provencal culinary traditions and stands out for his eco-responsible cuisine. Alongside Viel on the jury, the finalist of ‘Objectif Top Chef’ Victoria Vallenilla: “I think they have to look for the creativity of the chef because they don’t have much time to create a dish and it’s much easier when you have time to try things and think about it. If you also think about the technicity they need to have, I’m stressed for them. I think the public has to see the ability to work on their stress and with a very short time of thinking. They see these new kitchens, they don’t know where are things. It has to be quite difficult and also working under pressure with so many people looking at them, it is already a proof of strength”, said Vallenilla.
True to tradition, contestants were presented with a mystery basket of ingredients just five minutes before they embarked on their culinary journey behind the stoves. Throughout the competition, the audience contributed by adding a surprise ingredient to the basket and later voted for the most exceptional culinary presentation, adding an interactive layer to this esteemed competition. Adding to the affair, Marco Tognon, winner of the previous edition hailing from the M/Y Planet spanning 72 meters, shared insights on the dish quality presented during the event.
The judging panel boasted the expertise of chef Danny Davies, renowned host of ‘Behind the Line with Chef Danny Davies’ and boasting over 25 years of experience in private yacht cuisine. Joining him were Chef Julien Roucheteau, a distinguished alumnus of the Ferrandi School in Paris and recipient of two Michelin stars, and Chef Fred Ramos, a protégé of the esteemed chef Jacques Maximin.
This year again the nine superyacht chefs selected to take part had to comply with an anti-waste criterium under the watchful eye of chef Duncan Biggs, requiring contestants to use every ingredient in the mystery basket or risk a penalty from an external scoring grid. “Especially with the global warming issue and the cost of the ingredients going up, it’s really important to have a keep a close eye on the wasting aspect of cooking. I know that it can be difficult, as chefs usually work in very fast-paced environments, but it’s fundamental to consider the matter and be prepared”, said Biggs. This initiative is part of the CSR policy of the Yacht Club de Monaco.
Taking part in this fifth edition were a lineup of skilled chefs, including Joelyanne Lefaucheur (M/Y Artemis – 33m), Mateusz Mitka (M/Y Lady Britt – 63m), Margot Laurent (M/Y Leonardo III – 43m), Enzo Di Garbo (M/Y L.A.U.L. …- 39m), Giacomo Seregni (M/Y Severin’s – 55m), Jérémie Gruson (M/Y Victoria del mar – 50m), and Ava Faulkner (M/Y Light Holic – 60m).
Wednesday, May 1, 2024
Thursday, May 2, 2024
