Latvia’s best chef and assistant chef to be determined in Ķīpsala!

The 2022 Latvian Chef of the Year and 2022 Latvian Assistant Chef of the Year competition will take place at the 2022 Riga Food fair on 9 September, to determine Latvia’s best chef, and to promote professional growth, share experience, and cooperate in this industry. This year, too, the winner will receive the Reaton Golden Ladle!

The purpose of the competition is to foster and develop the culinary arts in Latvia in line with the essence of the Modern Latvian Cuisine Manifesto: delivering good flavour and quality, while taking care of healthy nutrition. The guiding principle of this year’s competition is zero waste in the kitchen.

‘This year, “Pavāru klubs” is returning to Riga Food with a number of interesting events, including the traditional and popular Latvian Chef of the Year competition, which has been taking place since 2005. Six professional chefs and their assistant chefs will compete for the title of the 2022 Latvian Chef of the Year at the fair on 9 September. The winner will receive not only the Reaton Golden Ladle and a cash prize, but also recognition and opportunities for career growth. This paves the way for international competitions, better job offers, and praise among colleagues. Try it!’ Svetlana Riškova, president of the ‘Pavāru klubs’ association, said.

You can still apply to participate!
Cooks and assistant chefs have until 1 August to apply for the competition! In order to apply, participants must submit a home assignment: recipes for a hot snack, soup, and a dessert, using at least one food from a Latvian farm. Send your application to the competition to: svetlana.pavaruklubs@gmail.com, saying ‘Latvijas 2022. gada pavāra / pavārzeļļa konkursam’ in the subject line. The rules of the competition and the application form can be found on the ‘Pavāru klubs’ website: https://chef.lv/jaunumi/atverta-pieteiksanas-konkursiem-latvijas-2022-gada-pavars-pavarzellis-novada-garsa-zero-wasste-challange/

Finalists to compete in Ķīpsala
The chefs with the best home assignment submissions will enter the final round of the competition. An independent and competent jury will select the finalists, anonymously evaluating the submissions. The finalists of the competition will be announced no later than 15 August, and on 9 September, they will meet to contend for the 2022 Latvian Chef of the Year title. During the finals in Ķīpsala, each contestant will have to prepare three dishes using the recipes of the home assignment they submitted in the application for the competition (hot snack, soup, and dessert). Contestants will not be allowed to use non-recyclable tableware.

International jury
An international jury with extensive experience in judging competitions will evaluate the chefs’ creations using certain criteria: food presentation, flavour and ingredient compatibility, technical skill and ability to organise work. The professional jury will consist of: Tomas Rimydis from Lithuania, Rudolf Visnapuu and Matthias Diether from Estonia, Fidgeir Ericsson from Iceland.

Valuable prizes
The winners of the first three places of the 2022 Latvian Chef of the Year will receive medals, certificates, and prizes prepared by sponsors. The champion of the competition will receive the Reaton Golden Ladle, which goes from one winner to another every year, from SIA Reaton Ltd., and a cash prize of 500 euros. Meanwhile, the best assistant chef, which needn’t be from the winning team of the 2022 Latvian Chef of the Year, will receive a medal, a certificate, a special prize, and a cash prize of 200 euros.

2021 Latvian Chef of the Year
Last year, Chef Dinārs Zvidriņš received the coveted title of the 2021 Latvian Chef of the Year, nabbing the Reaton Golden Ladle for the third time. He also became a member of the European team of the prestigious chef competition Bocouse d’Or. ‘Join the competition, and you too will gain in-depth experience and find new contacts!’ Dinārs Zvidriņš, three-time winner of Latvian Chef of the Year, said.
Aleksandra Krūka was the 2021 Latvian Assistant Chef of the Year.

Get inspired and support your favourite!
We invite chefs, students, industry professionals, and anyone interested in watching the 2022 Latvian Chef of the Year and 2022 Latvian Assistant Chef of the Year at Riga Food 2022 in Ķīpsala from 10:00 to 15:00, on 9 September.

The competition is organised by the ‘Pavāru klubs’ association in conjunction with the BT 1 international exhibition company.

As you know, on 8–10 September, Riga Food 2022 will bring to Ķīpsala only the best chefs and assistant chefs, but also bartenders, tea specialists, grill and barbecue masters together to measure their professionalism, skill, and ingenuity. The 2022 Riga Food schedule is available here: www.bt1.lv/rigafood/visit.php#events

Follow the news of the fair on its website: www.rigafood.lv;
and on social media: www.facebook.com/rigafood