Markham grad to compete in chef competition
A Markham native who discovered his passion after inadvertently enrolling in a hospitality and tourism college class is among 10 Canadian regional finalists in the S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Competition 2024-25.
Anthony Huynh, a graduate of Bur Oak Secondary School in Markham, will compete on October 23 at George Brown College in Toronto for the chance to represent Canada in the competition’s grand finale in Milan, Italy, which will also be held this month.
After pursuing culinary studies at George Brown, Huynh travelled to Hong Kong, where he worked in a Michelin-star restaurant, an experience that taught him about the intricacies of fine dining and the importance of creating memorable guest experiences. Upon returning to Canada due to the pandemic, he landed a position at the esteemed Langdon Hall. 
He’s now under the mentorship of Chef Quinton Bennett at Enigma Yorkville in Toronto, which offers an environment that allows for direct guest interaction. His signature dish, Cantonese Pork & Albalone with Rice Banh Mi, reflects his diverse heritage, merging childhood favourites and blending Chinese, European and Vietnamese flavours.
The S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Competition, in its sixth edition, received submissions from more than 1,000 young chefs from 15 countries. Each submission included the chef’s signature dish and was evaluated by culinary experts from ALMA, the world’s leading international educational and training centre for Italian cuisine. The experts assessed each dish based on three criteria: technical skills, creativity and a personal belief in the transformative power of gastronomy to make a positive change in society through food.
Each contestant will produce their signature dish at both the Canadian regional final and the grand finale. See the complete list of Canadian chef finalists and learn more about the S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Competition 2024-25 at sanpellegrinoyoungchefacademy.com/regional-finalists-2024/canada. Follow #SPYoungChefAcademy for news and announcements on the competition.
Photos courtesy of S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Competition.