Global scouting project aims to find best young chef

The global competition divides the world into 20 areas and involves around 100 top chefs as jurors across the globe, 20 young chef finalists, 20 chef mentors and a stellar chef's jury. The 2016 competition entries will open on 1 January on the Fine Dining Lovers website, and calls for entrants with at least one year's experience as a chef, sous chef or chef de partie.

Veteran talents of the competition include Irish chef Mark Moriarty, winner of the 2015 edition, who commented on his positive experience: "I was delighted and honoured to be named S.Pellegrino Young Chef 2015. The journey was an unforgettable and one-off experience that I will never forget. I met so many fantastic chefs along the way and the title has made an incredible difference to my career as a whole."

Local finalists will be selected to participate in regional finals between 1 May and 15 August. During these events, the area finalists will have to cook their signature dishes for an exclusive regional jury composed of independent top chefs, who will taste the dishes and select the finalist who will go on to the global final in Milan in October.

S.Pellegrino Young Chef 2016 will feature a renewed panel of judges, the "seven sages", who will be responsible for selecting the most talented young chef in the world. Chef David Higgs from South Africa will join this incredible jury that for 2016 will comprise some of the worlds most renowned cuisine artists, like Carlo Cracco, Gaggan Anand, Elena Arzak, Mauro Colagreco, Wylie Dufresne and Roberta Sudbrack.