Renz Mangalile of The Saplinbrae Hotel triumphed over his competitors during the final cook-off in the North East of Scotland Chef and Restaurant of the Year Awards.

28 May 2019—A Filipino chef from Baliwag, Bulacan walked away with the Young Chef of the Year Award during the prestigious North East of Scotland Chef and Restaurant of the Year Awards 2019 in Aberdeen on 27 May. Renz Mangalile of The Saplinbrae Hotel, was the only Filipino who competed this year in Scotland’s prestigious culinary tilt.

“Until now, I am still in a massive state of disbelief that I won because there were a lot of tough competitors from the other hotels,” said the 19-year-old chef. “I was already very honoured when my menu was accepted as each course represents a different stage in my life. The starter course represented my hotel, my main course represented who I am and our Filipino culture, and the dessert represented all the technical skills I learned so far at college. Winning was such a bonus for me and it made all the hard work, time, money, and sleepless nights worth it.”

The Young Chef of the Year Award is one of nine major award categories judged by a panel from the Federation of Chefs Scotland.

“This accolade is yet another evidence of how young Filipinos in the United Kingdom, by excelling in their respective fields, contribute positively to the fabric of British society,” said Ambassador Antonio M. Lagdameo.

The North East of Scotland Chef and Restaurant of the Year Awards is a competition aimed at recognizing the contributions of chefs and restaurants in Scotland’s North East. END