Israeli Chef Itamar Bavli Advances to San Pellegrino Young Chef Regional Finals

Israeli chef Itamar Bavli from Santi restaurant, working alongside mentor Guy Arish, has qualified for the regional finals of the San Pellegrino Young Chef competition for 2026-2027. The regional final will take place in Bucharest on October 27-28, featuring contestants from Southeast Europe and the Mediterranean basin, including countries such as Greece, Croatia, Poland, and Hungary. The competition is a prestigious global platform aimed at discovering and nurturing promising young culinary talents under the age of 30.

Bavli secured his place with a dish called "Lamb Serving," which offers a contemporary interpretation of Israeli cuisine and the traditional Rosh Hashanah meal. The dish utilizes all parts of the lamb, including roasted loin, raw shoulder, brain, tongue, and a broth made from the head bones, incorporating modern techniques like fermentation, aging, koji, and garum to enhance umami flavors. Inspired by his Yemeni heritage, Bavli also included "fire bread" as a nod to the family tradition of breaking the kubaneh bread during meals, inviting judges to engage in the ritual of assembling their own bites.

Yoash Ben Eliezer, Deputy CEO of Tempo, praised Bavli and Santi restaurant for their ambition amid challenging times and highlighted San Pellegrino's ongoing projects supporting Israeli culinary icons and young chefs alike. Bavli expressed excitement and gratitude for the opportunity to represent Israel and its culinary traditions on the international stage. Mentor Guy Arish emphasized Bavli's curiosity, discipline, and evolving culinary voice, expressing pride in representing Israel during a time when international presence holds special significance.