PAST WINNERS
2018 - 2025
2025
Mia Walter
Representing Exeter College
Winner of Riso Gallo’s UK & Ireland Young Risotto Chef of the Year 2025
Watch the entrants in action
Take a look at our video of the 2025 final below to see what it’s like to take part.. exciting, exhilarating, great fun and so much concentration – and you’ll be supported by some outstanding Chefs who are keen to see your passion and your joy in cooking…
2024
Nathan Cooper
Working for Baxter Storey in London
Winner of Riso Gallo’s UK & Ireland Young Risotto Chef of the Year 2024
Nathan Cooper, who works for Baxter Storey in London has won the 2024 Riso Gallo UK & Ireland Young Risotto Chef of the Year competition. He will shortly go on an all expenses paid three day work experience with renowned judging chef Fabio Pisani and his team at the Michelin starred Il Luogo Aimo e Nadia in Milan, Italy.
Nathan, aged 23 years, from Benfleet, Essex, cooked Waste Knot’ Carrot and Caramelised Miso Risotto, with sheep milk labneh, smoked walnuts, carrot top pesto and shimeji mushroom. He said; “I created this dish as I wanted to create a zero-waste risotto that used a humble ingredient, something anyone can buy and is inexpensive. Carrots to me have always been versatile and combined with seaweed, one of my favorite products, they go hand in hand. Using local ingredients such as labneh from Ireland, Sussex charmer cheese, waste knot carrots. This is the most excited I’ve been to create a zero-waste risotto.”
Watch the entrants in action
Take a look at our video of the 2024 final below to see what it’s like to take part.. exciting, exhilarating, great fun and so much concentration – and you’ll be supported by some outstanding Chefs who are keen to see your passion and your joy in cooking…
2023
Emily Simkins
Level 3 Advanced Professional Cookery student, North Hertfordshire College
Winner of Riso Gallo’s UK & Ireland Young Risotto Chef of the Year 2023
Emilys’ dish, showcasing Jerusalem Artichoke, incorporated a ‘zero waste’ theme and the rich, earthy flavour of the creamy artichoke purée worked very well with the crisp texture of the nutty Artichoke Bark and the salty Yorkshire Pecorino ‘Leeds Blue’ cheese.
Garnished with nasturtium leaves and alyssum flowers to visually enhance the ‘woodland’ theme, the dish was universally celebrated by our team of Judges led by Paul Gayler MBE.
Runners Up of Riso Gallo’s UK & Ireland Young Risotto Chef of the Year 2023
Watch the entrants in action
Take a look at our video of the 2020 final below to see what it’s like to take part.. exciting, exhilarating, great fun and so much concentration – and you’ll be supported by some outstanding Chefs who are keen to see your passion and your joy in cooking…
2022
Elliot Wakefield
Winner of Riso Gallo’s UK & Ireland Young Risotto Chef of the Year 2022
Elliot took the title with his Pumpkin Risotto. Chairman of the judges, Paul Gayler, commented, “It was another hotly contested final this year, one of the closest run finals for years. However, the judges were in total agreement that Elliotts’ pumpkin risotto dish was full of flavour, complexity and character, while retaining the classic disciplines found in a great risotto”.
The 20 year old chef, from Weybridge, studied his craft at the University of West London, and currently works at Gordon Ramsay’s Savoy Grill, London.
Elliot commented, “I chose to cook this dish because when I was 12 years old my parents took us on holiday to Milan. I tried this dish and fell in love with it. It’s a dish that is close to my heart and I am thrilled that it won me the title!”
Elliot has won an all expenses paid three day work experience with renowned judging chef Fabio Pisani and his team at the 2 Michelin starred Il Luogo Aimo e Nadia in Milan, Italy.
Jason Morrison, MD Riso Gallo UK commented; “We have seen another great final for our UK & Ireland Young Risotto Chef of the Year competition. We have a wonderful calibre of judging chefs, and to see the passion in our young finalists is very rewarding. For over 165 years, Riso Gallo has supplied many of the top chefs across the world with Italian rice of the highest quality. We understand their passion and commitment to their craft, and the years of training they undertake. We launched this competition to help foster and reward the next generation, who can inject personality, passion and creativity into their own vibrant, exciting risotto dish. Our UK & Ireland Young Risotto Chef of the Year has gone from strength to strength each year.”
Elliot’s beautiful Pumpkin Risotto below..
The winning dish Celeriac Risotto with Chestnut and Trumpet Mushrooms
Watch the entrants in action
Take a look at our video of the 2020 final below to see what it’s like to take part.. exciting, exhilarating, great fun and so much concentration – and you’ll be supported by some outstanding Chefs who are keen to see your passion and your joy in cooking…
2021
Orin Perry
Reading College
Young Risotto Chef 2021 Winner
Orin, aged 18, cooked a Seafood Risotto that really impressed the judges.
“I found this recipe in my great grandma’s cooking box and my mum told me how it had changed over the years with a bit of influence from each generation”, Orin explained. “It started without seafood and used all Italian cheese. My grandma added the seafood while in America and my mum changed the cheese when she lived in Amsterdam”.
Orin commented, “It was a huge surprise to win and I am really looking forward to the opportunity of cooking in such a prestigious kitchen.” His plans for the future include one day having his own restaurant in New York.
Edward Cooke, Head Chef at the Fat Duck, said, “We’re looking forward to welcoming Orin. He will learn how we dress plates in the Fat Duck Kitchen and will be working on food preparation and in the pastry section. He will be able to reflect on this unique learning through his career.”
The winning dish Celeriac Risotto with Chestnut and Trumpet Mushrooms
2020
Mariusz Jasinski
Petrus Restaurant, London
Young Risotto Chef 2020 Winner
His dish, of Celeriac Risotto with Chestnut and Trumpet Mushrooms was an extraordinary combination of flavours and tasted and looked sublime.
Mariusz will work alongside Chris and Jeff Galvin at La Chapelle in London for a 3 day stage and his dish will soon be featured for a week on the menu at Gordon Ramsay’s Union Street Cafe.
Plus his Risotto recipe will feature on the menu at Gordon Ramsay’s Union Street Café for one week.
The winning dish Celeriac Risotto with Chestnut and Trumpet Mushrooms
Watch the entrants in action
Take a look at our video of the 2020 final below to see what it’s like to take part.. exciting, exhilarating, great fun and so much concentration – and you’ll be supported by some outstanding Chefs who are keen to see your passion and your joy in cooking…
The finalists and their dishes
The Judges with the winner Mariusz Jasinski
Winner Mariusz Jasinski
Runner-Up Marco Loriggiola
3rd Place Kiera Harnett
Finalist Nyarli Calderon
Finalist Hannah Richardson
Finalist Brannon Underwood
Finalist Myah Erasmus
Finalist Annabel Green
2019
Andrew Williams
Salthouse Bacaro, Liverpool
Winner of the 2019 National Riso Gallo Young Risotto Chef competition.
Andrew’s dish, of caramelised onion and red wine risotto, with butter-roasted pine nuts, crispy onions, radicchio and taleggio was absolutely delicious and universally admired by the judges, with Lead Judge Paul Gayler making special mention at the presentation of the excellent flavour and balance, and the skill he showed while producing. His dish stood out against stiff competition and emphasised his knowledge and understanding of the ingredients.
The risotto ‘cook-off’ took place at Westminster Kingsway College on 22nd January 2019.
Andrew will receive an all expenses paid three day work experience at Angela Hartnett’s Michelin starred modern Italian restaurant, Murano, in Mayfair, London., featured in the Guida Gallo, an illustrious guide to the best Risotto restaurants and recipes in the world produced every three years by Riso Gallo.
Plus his Risotto recipe will feature on the menu at Gordon Ramsay’s Union Street Café for one week.
Watch the entrants in action
Take a look at our video of the 2019 final below to see what it’s like to take part.. exciting, exhilarating, great fun and so much concentration – and you’ll be supported by some outstanding Chefs who are keen to see your passion and your joy in cooking…
The finalists and their dishes
All the Judges and competition finalists
2nd Place William Matone
3rd Place Oliver Parry-Molloy
Finalist Elisha Johnson
Finalist Josh Rooney
Finalist Rangel Stoychev
Finalist Nicole Laing
Finalist Kimberley Sharp
Finalist Thomas Hickin
Finalist Nikoletta Theofylakidouo
2018
Dervis Mustafa
London
Winner of the 2018 National Riso Gallo Young Risotto Chef of the Year competition.
Dervis from Westminster Kingsway College prepared a Jerusalem Artichoke and Wild Mushroom Risotto for judges chef Danilo Cortellini, former Professional MasterChef Finalist, Davide Degiovanni, Head Chef at Gordon Ramsay’s Union Street Café and Paul Gayler MBE, former Executive Chef at The Lanesborough and author, and Fabio Pisani from the renowned 2 Michelin star Aimo e Nadia in Milan. Joining the chefs were Food Director at Woman & Home, Jane Curran and Bruce Langlands, Head of Food & Hospitality at Selfridges.
The risotto ‘cook-off’ took place at Westminster Kingsway College on 22nd January 2018.
Dervis will receive an all expenses three day trip to Milan to cook with the chefs in the two starred Michelin restaurant Il Luogo di Aimo e Nadia, featured in the Guida Gallo, an illustrious guide to the best Risotto restaurants and recipes in the world produced every three years by Riso Gallo.
Plus his Jerusalem Artichoke and Wild Mushroom Risotto recipe will feature on the menu at Gordon Ramsay’s Union Street Café for one week.
The runner up Pietro Ascione won a three day cooking experience with Danilo Cortellini at The Italian Embassy in London, for the planning and execution of a gala dinner.
Watch the entrants in action
Take a look at our video of the 2018 final below to see what it’s like to take part.. exciting, exhilarating, great fun and so much concentration – and you’ll be supported by some outstanding Chefs who are keen to see your passion and your joy in cooking…
The finalists and their dishes
All the Judges and competition finalists
Winner Dervis Mustafa
Runner Up Pieter Ascione
Finalist Rangel Stoychev
Finalist John Howarth
Finalist Jordan Desborough
