Josh Ross, the head Chef at Parliament’s prestigious Bellamy’s Restaurant has won third place in the International Jeunes Chefs Rotisseurs 2022 (Young Chef of the Year competition).
Competing against 17 globally selected young chefs, Josh was New Zealand’s representative in the competition run by the Chaine des Rotisseurs, an international culinary group.
The head of the chaine in New Zealand, David Shackleton said, “It’s a huge achievement for him and we are very proud of what Josh has accomplished. It unequivocally underscores the talent we have in New Zealand. It also highlights Josh’s skills, professionalism and dedication to his art. We could not be more proud.” The competition has just concluded in Mexico City.
Run by the Chaine des Rotisseurs, an international association of gastronomy, Josh won the New Zealand Jeune (Young) Chef Award last year, however the international competition was delayed until October this year.
As New Zealand’s representative in the international competition being held in Mexico City, the 26-year-old competed against seventeen other young chefs from Europe, Asia and the Americas for the international title.
The competition has several rounds and runs according to the mystery box format which is standard for such culinary events.
Chefs are given a box of ingredients and asked to compose a three-course meal. Points are awarded for the menu, their preparation, presentation, organisation and for the meal itself.
In addition to running Bellamy’s and his own cafe called Twenty Eight in Lower Hutt, Josh has been practising every Sunday for several months using the mystery box format under the guidance of Anita Sarginson, an accredited and experienced New Zealand culinary judge.
“I haven’t had a lot of free time lately, but the training has been very helpful and very useful in expanding my skills,’ he said.
“Being a head chef has certainly been to my advantage. I got to head chef at the age of 23, and the reason for that was working at Logan Brown where Shaun Clouston the co-owner, believed in me and mentored me and it seems to have worked out well.
“I am really looking forward to competing. It’s tough, stimulating, tiring and exhilarating all at the same time, and obviously I want to do well.”
“Josh is a hugely talented, dedicated, and knowledgeable young culinarian, he is the perfect representative for New Zealand,” says David Shackleton, the head of the Chaine des Rotisseurs in New Zealand.
Josh was farewelled at an afternoon tea at the Cordon Bleu School in lower Cuba Street, Wellington on September 25 . He was selected as New Zealand’s representative in a mystery box competition run by the New Zealand chapter of the Chaine des Rotisseurs, a culinary and gastronomic group dating back to 1248, but operating in its current form from 1950, to promote the culinary arts and appreciation of fine food and wines.
