The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation Joins SAVOR to Promote First-Ever American Leg of Young Chef Young Waiter Competition

American competition segment, held in Long Beach, California, will benefit the Foundation

WASHINGTON, DC – July 14, 2022 – The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) announced today it has joined SAVOR, the culinary division of ASM Global, to invite outstanding service professionals to apply to join Young Chef Young Waiter (YCYW), which is holding its first-ever American competition segment in Long Beach, California, on September 20-22.

Young Chef Young Waiter Competition competitor

The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) has joined SAVOR, the culinary division of ASM Global, to invite outstanding service professionals to apply to join Young Chef Young Waiter (YCYW), which is holding its first-ever American competition segment in Long Beach, California, on September 20-22.

CYW highlights the skills of the best young professionals building careers in the restaurant and hospitality industry with worldwide competitions that culminate in a final match. Past winners and judges have included Mark Sargeant, Marcus Wareing, Simon King, John Torode, Annie and Germain Schwab, Jeremy King and more. As part of its announcement inviting service professionals to apply to enter YCYW, SAVOR also announced it will make a donation to the NRAEF through its new corporate and social responsibility platform, ASM Global Acts Foundation.

“We are thrilled that some of the country’s top service professionals will get the chance to showcase their skills in front of a global audience through Young Chef Young Waiter’s first-ever American leg of competition,” said Rob Gifford, President of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. “We are grateful for partners like SAVOR and their generous donation to the NRAEF, which will help us continue our work to uplift and promote opportunities for workers in the restaurant and hospitality industry.”

The American leg of YCYW will be held at the Long Beach Convention Center and offer top service professionals from across the country the chance to go head-to-head. Winners of the competition at the Long Beach Convention Center will join those from other international contests to compete in the final YCYW competition, held November 15-17 in Monaco.

How to Enter

YCYW-Enter-Now-GraphicChefs and waiters throughout the U.S. under the age of 26 are asked to visit https://youngchefyoungwaiter.com/usa-california/ to enter online now through August 31, 2022. A panel of high-profile service industry veterans, including award-winning chef Adam Sobel and Michael Brennan, president of Specialty Restaurants Group, will help narrow down the entries to a short list of 20 finalists—10 chefs and 10 waiters—who will battle it out in the two-day live finale and awards party at the Long Beach Convention Center.

The two winners of YCYW United States will take part in the World Young Chef Young Waiter Final in Monaco. Entry is free for chefs and waiters residing in the U.S. who are 26 years old or under by August 31, 2022. Entrants can take part if they are currently employed in the role of chef or waiter and have been employed for three (3) years or more in the hospitality profession (including those who may be temporarily unable to work or have been furloughed from their present roles).


About the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF): As the philanthropic foundation of the National Restaurant Association, the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation’s (NRAEF) mission of service to the public is dedicated to enhancing the industry’s training and education, career development and community engagement efforts. The NRAEF and its programs work to Attract, Empower and Advance today’s and tomorrow’s restaurant and foodservice workforce. NRAEF programs include: ProStart® – a high-school career and technical education program; Restaurant Ready – partnering with community based organizations to provide “opportunity youth” with skills training and job opportunities; Military – helping military servicemen and women transition their skills to restaurant and foodservice careers; Scholarships – financial assistance for students pursuing restaurant, foodservice and hospitality degrees; and the Restaurant & Hospitality Leadership Center (RHLC) – accredited apprenticeship programs designed to build the careers of service professionals. For more information on the NRAEF, visit ChooseRestaurants.org.

Click here for the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation’s 2021 Annual Impact Report.

About SAVOR: SAVOR is the culinary division of ASM Global, the world’s leading producer of entertainment experiences. which spans five continents and more than 350 of the world’s most prestigious arenas, stadiums, convention and exhibit centers, and performing arts venues. The team at SAVOR provides top-notch experiences at every event, from the food preparation to the beverage offerings, whether for intimate VIP experiences or banquets with over 20,000 guests. Besides great, authentic chef-driven food, the core elements of SAVOR’s food vision include partnerships with local growers, producers and community members; a commitment to using antibiotic free meats and poultry; and dedication to minimizing impact on the environment through robust sustainability, recycling and composting programs. For more information, please visit savorasmglobal.com.

About ASM Global Acts: Established in October 2021, the formal corporate social responsibility program launched as an extension of ASM Global’s longstanding commitments to creating a better workplace, more diverse workforce, serving the communities where it operates and contributing to a healthier planet. As part of this platform, the ASM Global Stars scholarship program provides diverse and under-resourced communities with educational and career-development opportunities.

CONTACT:

Hannah Oliver
National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation
holiver@nraef.org

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