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The UK and Ireland 2026 Young Risotto Chef of the Year Competition

Each year Riso Gallo, Europes premier grain specialists searches for young chefs (aged 17-23) who can inject personality, passion and creativity to create a vibrant, exciting risotto dish to wow our judges.

Enter now and see if you can become our next Young Risotto Chef of the Year…

Watch the 2025 entrants in action!

See what it’s like to take part.. exciting, exhilarating, great fun and there is so much concentration. You’ll be supported by some outstanding Chefs who are keen to see your passion and your joy in cooking…

OUR WINNER FOR 2026

A massive congratulations to our 2026 Young Risotto Chef of the Year – NATHAN ARMSTRONG, aged 18, from Sileby, and studying at Loughborough College, has been named winner of the Riso Gallo UK & Ireland Young Risotto Chef of the Year 2026.

Nathan impressed judges with his innovative dish: Home Grown Artichoke and Local Stilton Risotto Showcasing creativity, technical skill, and a strong commitment to sustainability.

Nathan was awarded an all-expenses-paid, four-day work experience in Milan with Chef Pisani and his team.

Nathan risotto - Artichoke and Stilton Risotto

SPECIAL MENTIONS

Runner-up DONAL BRYNE, from Waterford College in SE Ireland, received a prestigious stage at the Italian Embassy in London, for his “Bog, Field & Hedgerow: Wicklow Rabbit Risotto”…

Donal Bryne
Runner up - Donal Byrne - Wicklow Rabbit Risotto
We are Riso Gallo, Europe’s premier grain specialists and the creators of the Young Risotto Chef of the Year. We have been supplying chefs around the world with the finest Italian grains for over six generations…

MEET THE PARTNERS

Every year we are helped by our competition partners. We pick the people we work with carefully to ensure our competition is prestigious, sustainable and great fun.

THE JUDGES

Over 200 years of combined experience in the culinary world, gives our judging panel the widest possible critique and some of the best feedback you’ll ever receive…

WHY RISOTTO?

Risotto is a classic Italian dish, often using simple ingredients. It is not a difficult dish to cook. Danilo Cortellini, executive chef at the Italian Embassy, has prepared a video to demonstrate the steps it takes to make a great risotto…