Chefs from Canada, China, Czechia, Germany, Ireland, Korea, Latin America, Luxembourg, Spain and the UK will compete in the global competition, bringing together different food cultures, ingredients, techniques and culinary styles. The Dublin event follows the 2025 Aramark International Chefs’ Cup, which took place in Shanghai.
Ireland will be represented by Ana Nechita, Head Chef at Brabazon House Nursing Home, and Philip Morrissey, Head Chef at the Midleton Distillery Experience.
The competition will be judged by a panel of leading Irish and international culinary figures, with chefs assessed across both tasting and technical criteria. The tasting panel will be led by Derry Clarke, one of Ireland’s most respected chefs and former Chef Patron of the Michelin starred l’Ecrivain. He will be joined by Ross Lewis, co-owner of two Michelin starred Chapter One, Paul Flynn, Chef and Owner of The Tannery in Dungarvan, Audrey Cronin of Unilever, Mario Henriquez, winner of the 2025 Aramark International Chefs’ Cup, and Cynthia Morales of Culinary Empower in Chile.
The technical judging panel will be led by Michael Nehrdich of Rational in Germany. He will be joined by George Smith, Lecturer and World Master Chef, Sinead Corbally, Sustainability Manager at Aramark, and Darren Daly, Quality and Safety Director at Aramark.
The judges will assess competitors on flavour, balance, creativity, presentation, technique, sustainability, preparation, quality, safety and overall execution. The format is designed to test not only the finished dish, but the thinking, discipline and decision making behind it.
The Aramark International Chefs’ Cup is one of the company’s leading culinary events, bringing together chefs from across its international business to compete, exchange ideas and showcase their individual food style on a global stage.
Derek Reilly, Executive Director of Culinary and Craft Development Aramark Ireland said: “This is a serious culinary contest. The judges will be looking for flavour first, but they will also be looking at balance, technique, creativity, presentation, sustainability and the choices behind each dish. At this level, every detail matters.
“What makes the Chefs’ Cup so compelling is that it reveals how chefs think. It is not just the finished plate. It is the decisions they make under pressure, the ingredients they choose, the techniques they trust and the food story they want to tell.
“Ana Nechita and Philip Morrissey will represent Ireland on home ground, which is a huge achievement. They will be competing alongside chefs from across the world, each bringing their own influences, training and style to Dublin.
“The Chefs’ Cup is a brilliant showcase of culinary talent across Aramark’s international business, and we are very proud that Ireland will host it in 2026.”
The 2026 Aramark International Chefs’ Cup will take place over three days in Dublin from Tuesday, 2nd June to Thursday, 4th June, with the live competition taking place at TU Dublin Grangegorman and the winner announced at a gala dinner in Croke Park.
