Generation Chef
The Rotary Club of Belfast together with the Rotary Clubs of Ballymena, Comber, Coleraine, Dungannon, Enniskillen, Lagan Valley, Limavady, Lisburn, Newry and Omagh with the culinary departments of the Belfast Met, Northern, North West, South East, Southern and South West Colleges present a unique opportunity for aspiring chefs to hone their skills, gain industry exposure and compete at a national level in the Rotary Generation Chef Competition. This competition, embodies Rotary’s mission of fostering community growth, connecting people and supporting young talent. The students selected from the Regional College heats compete in the inter-college Grand Final testing their cooking and hospitality and their ability to work together as a team under pressure in a professional environment.
The Club is delighted to participate by supporting teams from the Belfast Metropolitan College.
2026 Competition
4 young talented teams, comprising 2 chefs and one front of house server, have been honing their skills over the last months to vie for a place in the Final to be held between the 6 Regional College winners on 30 April 2026. Having had a practice run, each team created, cooked and presented a 3 course meal with mocktail for the Belfast Met Final on Tuesday 14 April and President Heather, PP Brian and Honorary Secretary David & Jenny Boyd enjoyed sampling the delicious fare.
The judges, visiting professional culinary chefs Danny Millar from Stock Kitchen Restaurant and front of house judge Jorge Mineguez from the Galgorm Group gave one-on-one feedback after the event, encouraging all those who entered. Presenting certificates to all competitors President Heather thanked them all for entering and wished them success in their careers.
The worthy winning team picked by the judges were:
Chefs Dylon Choundrey and Luca McFarlane
and Front of House winner Josh Wilson
they will now represent the Belfast Met at the competition Grand Final 30 April hosted by last year's winning Club in Newry
we wish them success.
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| The Winning Menu | ||
Gallery
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- Belfast Met Teams
- Belfast Finalists
- Final Menu
- Final Starter
- Final Main Course
- Final Desert
- Final Mocktail
- Competing Team
- Competing Team
- Competing Team
- Competing Team
- Practice Menu
- Enjoying the Practice meal
- Practice Mocktail Preparation
- Practice main Course
2025 Competition
The final of the inaugural Generation Chef Competition was held on Thursday 01 May at the Belfast Metropolitan College. The Club's congratulations were extended to the Club team (pictured l-r): chefs Rowan Graham and Aaron Agnew and Front of House Jane Bracken who came 2nd only being narrowly beaten by the RC Newry team. They will go far in their chosen careers Chef Rowan is moving to Australia for 2 years to experience a broader cuisine, particularly Asian; Aaron has a placement at a Michelin star restaurant in London and FoH Jayne will be using her skills to start with her husband a restaurant in Spain! The Club warmly congratulates the winning RC Newry Club and the Southern Regional College team.