Slovenia’s Next Generation of Chefs Steps onto the Global Stage
Published:
20.8.2026
Slovenia’s Next Generation of Chefs Steps onto the Global Stage
Four young Slovenian chefs are stepping onto one of gastronomy’s biggest stages – and Ana Roš Stojan will be there too, this time on the Grand Finale jury. Discover who made the cut, what they will cook and why Slovenia’s next culinary generation is one to watch.
Young Slovenian chefs have achieved another international success. Aljaž Resnik, Jure Korent Vodnik and Matija Cotič have been selected among 15 competitors for the Southeast Europe & Mediterranean regional final of the prestigious S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Competition 2026–2027. Former MasterChef Slovenia winner Bruno Šulman has qualified for the Northern Europe regional final, where he will represent Denmark. Slovenian gastronomy has received further recognition with Ana Roš Stojan being selected as one of seven judges for the Grand Finale in Milan.
Candidates for one of the world’s leading competitions for young chefs were selected through a rigorous process conducted by ALMA – The School of Italian Culinary Arts. From several thousand applicants, 170 young chefs were chosen to compete in 15 regional finals around the world.
At the end of October, Slovenia will be represented in Bucharest at the Southeast Europe & Mediterranean regional final by Aljaž Resnik of Strelec Restaurant in Ljubljana, Jure Korent Vodnik of Vila Planinka in Jezersko and Matija Cotič of Gredič Restaurant in Dobrovo. Three Slovenian chefs also reached the regional final in the previous edition of the competition.
A fourth Slovenian, Bruno Šulman, a former winner of MasterChef Slovenia, has qualified for the Northern Europe regional final. As he currently works in Denmark, he will represent the country in the competition. Winners of the individual regional finals will advance to the S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Grand Finale, which will take place in Milan in autumn 2027.
Slovenian Chefs to Compete with Signature Dishes
At the regional final in Bucharest, the Slovenian competitors will be assessed by a five-member jury that includes acclaimed Croatian chef Hrvoje Kroflin of ManO2 restaurant in Zagreb. The young chefs will aim to impress with local ingredients, diverse culinary techniques and their own visions for the future of gastronomy.
Aljaž Resnik will present A Story of Survival, featuring Krškopolje pork, apple ravioli, apple juice and vinegar gel, and a corn beignet filled with bacon jam. He will prepare for the competition under the mentorship of Igor Jagodic, who served on the jury of the previous regional final in Malta.
Jure Korent Vodnik, mentored by Jernej Kamič, will prepare a dish titled Presentation and Tribute to Slovenia. At its centre is lightly smoked venison loin prepared over spruce needles, accompanied by crushed buckwheat popcorn, partially dehydrated glazed beetroot, and an egg zabaglione with verjus and fermented honey.
Matija Cotič, who also reached the regional final in the previous edition of the competition, will present Back to the Roots. The dish includes beef shank terrine, crystal-clear beef broth, a quenelle of stale bread and red wine, celery velouté, fresh sprouts with charcoal gel, porcini and chanterelle cream, and white truffle. Once again, his mentor will be Tomaž Kavčič.
Ana Roš Stojan Returns to the Prestigious Grand Finale Jury
Slovenia will also have a strong presence at the Grand Finale in Milan. Ana Roš Stojan will once again be one of seven members of the prestigious international jury, traditionally composed of some of the world’s leading chefs. She first served in this role in 2018.
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