Romania recently hosted the regional stage of a young chefs competition, but the prize went to Serbia. A Romanian chef was also part of the jury at a recent Eastern European competition of young chefs, whose regional finale took place in Bucharest. Chef Florin Dumitrescu was one of the three chefs who decided the winners.

Although two Romanian chefs were also among the ten finalists of the regional leg of this competition, Serbian Stefan Barca will represent the region in the European final in early summer this year. A chef from Dej and one from Sibiu represented Romania in the regional stage: Emanuel Mocan from Black Tulip restaurant in Dej, and Mihai Toader, from the Villa Restaurant & Garden in Sibiu.

Held in a Bucharest venue on February 26, the final saw Barca taking the title with a dish named ‘Who killed the Bambi’.  He will go to the final in Milan between June 25 and 27.

Romanian chef Florin Dumitrescu, former star of the Master Chef local TV show, and now the main host of the Hell’s Kitchen show in Romania, was one of the three jury members for the recent competition. He shared jury duties with Jerzy Pasikowski from Poland and Jiri Stift in the Czech Republic.

Competitors came from Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria, the Republic of Moldova, Hungary, and Romania.

“I am happy Romania could host this competition, and that, slowly but surely, Romania has a say in the world of international gastronomy,” said chef Florin Dumitrescu.

The competition San Pellegrino Young Chef 2015 will award its grand prize in Milan, where the 20 regional finalists, all under 30, will compete between June 25 and 27 this year.

editor@romania-insider.com