Ardy Ferguson wins S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Competition 2024-25.

Ardy Ferguson wins SPYCA Competition 2024–25

30 Oct 2025

Fine Dining Lovers

Editorial Staff

The finalist representing the Asia region captivated the Grand Jury with a dish inspired by Indonesian tradition

Ardy Ferguson is the sixth winner of the S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Competition. The finalist from the Asia region was crowned last night at Milan’s stunning Castello Sforzesco, during a gala dinner closing the two-day Grand Finale for the 2024–25 edition.

Guided by mentor Vicky Lau, Ferguson impressed the Grand Jury – composed of chefs Christophe Bacquié, Jeremy Chan, Antonia Klugmann, Niki Nakayama, Elena Reygadas, Julien Royer and Mitsuharu Tsumura – with his dish, Archipelago Celebration.

“I can’t believe it,” he said immediately after the announcement, his jacket still fresh with the signatures of his fellow contestants and confetti clinging to his shoulders. “Just being able to present my dish to the world felt like a success in itself, but this is truly an unexpected and wonderful achievement. The best chefs in the world chose me – I’m honestly speechless.”

Ferguson also expressed deep gratitude to his mentor, Vicky Lau: “I owe her everything. Without her dedication, I wouldn’t be here. She followed me through every step, analysed every detail, and during the competition she spent five hours tasting every single element. Without her, I probably wouldn’t have won.”

Lastly, a heartfelt dedication: “This award is for my family, for the team at Belon in Hong Kong who made it possible for me to be here, for all the finalists and mentors. The community this competition builds is the most beautiful thing I take away from this experience, and I’m sure it will keep growing over time.”

Ferguson triumphed over 14 other talented young chefs from around the world who brought their knowledge and creativity to Milan, for a competition that continues to spotlight the future of gastronomy with each edition.

Before the gala dinner, the three collateral awards of the competition were also announced: the S.Pellegrino Social Responsibility Award, the Acqua Panna Connection in Gastronomy Award and the Fine Dining Lovers Food for Thought Award.

Each prize was awarded to a chef who had already won at their respective Regional Final.

Discover who the winners were, learn more about the prizes and find out how they were awarded, below.

Zanté Neethling wins the S.Pellegrino Social Responsibility Award

South Africa’s Zanté Neethling, representing the Africa, Middle East & South Asia region, won the Social Responsibility Award for her dish, Tribute to the Khoi-Khoin Taras, based on indigenous South African healing plants.

The award is voted for by the Sustainable Restaurant Association, which runs the Food Made Good program certifying sustainable food and beverage businesses around the world. It’s given to the chef whose signature dish best exemplifies the use of sustainable practices.

Neethling went one better than the regional S.Pellegrino Social Responsibility Award she picked up at the 2022-23 competition, by winning the global prize at this edition.

“Discovering our origin of flavour and using indigenous healing plants has been a sacred journey. I am beyond grateful to represent our diverse heritage through honouring the forgotten foods and heritage of our land. I am hoping to weave a tapestry of unity through food in my country,” said Neethling, who’s currently Executive Sous Chef at Beyond restaurant in Cape Town.

Noah Wynants wins the Acqua Panna Connection in Gastronomy Award

Noah Wynants, representing the North Europe region, won the Acqua Panna Connection in Gastronomy Award for his plant-based dish, Dutch ‘Rendang’.

Voted for by the competition mentors, the award is given to the young chef who perfectly expresses both the culinary traditions of their region and a modern vision through a signature dish.

Speaking about his win, the young chef from the Netherlands, who cooks at De Librije in Zwolle, said the award was pleasing recognition for a dish that only uses ingredients from small local farmers.

“What’s grown close to home gets a worldly twist, creating a dish that feels local, but tastes global. This award perfectly represents what this dish is all about,” he said.

Nicolás A. López wins the Fine Dining Lovers Food for Thought Award

Nicolás A. López, representing the USA, won the Fine Dining Lovers Food for Thought Award, voted for by Fine Dining Lovers readers and the wider gastronomic community, for his dish, Pork with Hints of the Sea.

The award is given to the chef who best represents their personal beliefs and values with a signature dish and is the only collateral prize of the competition decided by the public.

“Cooking is more than perfecting recipes – it’s about telling stories that transform meals into memories and bring people together. This recognition inspires me to continue telling stories through my food,” said López, who currently cooks at 888 in Nashville.

Fine Dining Lovers

30 Oct 2025

S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy