Malta’s Martina Bonello Wins S.Pellegrino Young Chef Regional Final
Malta’s Martina Bonello wins the S.Pellegrino Young Chef South East Europe final, securing a historic place at the international Grand Finale in Milan in 2027.
Malta has a new reason to celebrate its culinary talent, and it comes with a generous helping of rabbit and a little taste of home. Chef Martina Bonello is heading to Milan in 2027 after winning the S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy South East Europe Regional Final in Bucharest.
Beating 14 other young chefs to claim the regional title, Martina also took home the Fine Dining Lovers Award, making it a double win for the talented Maltese chef.
Her winning dish, Echoes of Malta, brought together rabbit, prawn and wild aromatics, drawing inspiration from her nanna’s Sunday lunch and Malta’s home-cooking traditions.
An alumna of the Institute of Tourism Studies (ITS), Martina has made history as the first Maltese chef to secure a place in the competition’s international Grand Finale. She was also the only female chef competing in the regional final, making her achievement all the more special.
Rather than leaving Malta’s culinary heritage at the door, Martina brought it straight into the kitchen, reimagining familiar flavours with creativity, technical skill and a contemporary approach.
The S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Competition celebrates emerging culinary talent from around the world, giving young chefs the opportunity to showcase their skills, exchange ideas and learn from leading figures in the industry.
For Martina, the journey now continues to Milan, where she will represent Malta at the international Grand Finale in 2027, competing against some of the world’s most promising young chefs.
