Chefs' Competition 2023

With the 8th edition of the Mediterranean Yacht Show fast approaching, it’s time to shine a spotlight on one of the most popular events of the Show, the Chefs’ Competition.

The annual Chefs’ Competition provides the chefs of the attending yachts with a wonderful opportunity: to showcase their skills and bring their creativity to the table. It’s Greek gastronomy at its veritable best.

Each year, the superyacht chefs are faced with a specific challenge. They must rise to the occasion by creating a dish that is a unique interpretation of the theme that is set. This year we will be exploring an environmentally friendly food trend that we believe is here to stay. The chefs can forget the trash bin as the theme is “Zero Waste From the Greek Seas”! Participating chefs must prepare a dish that celebrates the essence of Greece by using ingredients sourced from the Greek seas in their entirety. From scale to tail in the case of a fish!

The thinking behind the theme

While increasingly found in contemporary restaurants around the world, sustainable eating is not actually a new thing. In fact, here in Greece, our ancestors took what they needed, and nothing more. They gave back to the land and respected the seas. It’s a “waste not, want not” message that is rooted in our history. “Waste” wasn’t a buzzword in the luxury world until recently, but it has become a major movement due to its simplicity and purity. And it is certainly better for our health and the environment.

The Tablescaping Competition

Each year, during the Chef’s Competition, the chief steward/esses are vying to create exquisite table settings – the perfect setting for the dishes that will be presented and that will complement the chefs’ creations. A celebration of style, the Tablescaping Competition is also a much-loved MEDYS tradition.

Two chefs, awarded with two Michelin stars each, join us this year

In closing, we would like to introduce you to the stellar chefs gracing this year’s judging panel. They have both been awarded 2 Michelin stars due to their masterful command of the culinary art and will surely bring out the best in the competitors.

First up is Chef George Papazacharias of Delta Restaurant in Athens, the only two Michelin-starred restaurant in the country. Despite his young age, Papazacharias has already made a name for himself in the culinary world and his commitment to zero-waste is legendary. It has earned him a coveted Michelin Green Star. Papazacharias also curated the menu for "Under," the world's largest underwater restaurant in Norway. With his charismatic personality and creative approach to cooking, Papazacharias adds a new dimension to this year's competition.

Our second judge is Chef Antonio Mellino, from the exceptionally elegant “Quattro Passi” restaurant in Nerano. It may have appeared on the fine-dining scene some 30 years ago, but it remains one of the “must-visit” locations on the Amalfi Coast. Chef Mellino creates dishes that take guests on an unforgettable and mouth-watering journey, and he is also an excellent host. Exuberance, warmth, passion, and talent, are what have set him apart in the extremely competitive culinary world.

Please note: All central Agents should download the documents below and forward them to the Chef that wishes to register:

Chefs' Competition Theme English

Chefs' Competition Terms English
 

Chefs' Competition Theme Greek

Chefs' Competition Terms Greek

Chefs' Competition Registration Form