Last week, the new Chef of the Year and Waiter of the Year were chosen.
2025 Chef of the Year Pieno Silvani received a congratulatory hug from last year’s champion Simo Harrivara. Santeri Stenvall
The peak moment of the Finnish restaurant industry was last week, when the Chef of the Year and the Waiter of the Year were chosen.
The Chef of the Year 2025 is Piero Silvani (Bistro Ego, Helsinki) and Waiter of the Year 2025 is Katrina Laitinen (BasBas Kulma, Helsinki). Friday evening 24.10. the new Finnish champions of the kitchen and hall were awarded at the end of the two-day finals.
The purpose of the competition, which brings out community, domestic excellence and rising stars, is also to give positive visibility to the industry, states the release.
This year, the Chef of the Year competition itself was also celebrated, because 30 years ago Pekka Terävä was chosen as the first Chef of the Year. The Chef of the Year competition has been organized since 1995.
Waitress of the Year Katrina Laitinen’s style example of how to open a champagne bottle with a saber. Santeri Stenvall
– The development of service and restaurant culture is now really important. The best professionals in the field learn and create networks precisely at these events, sums up the main judge of the Waiter of the Year competition Sarah Alander in the bulletin.
Muru-Dining’s restaurant manager Alander won the Waiter of the Year competition in 2015.
Six experts in their field competed for both the Chef of the Year 2025 and Waiter of the Year 2025. The two-day finals were held at Helsinki Messukeskus.
Piero Silvani and Katarina Laitinen each received a scholarship of 10,000 euros. Santeri Stenvall
For the judges, evaluating the performance of the finalists is a comprehensive task, where details matter.
– The judges pay attention to many things throughout the competition day. For example, we always look to see if a competitor has poured wine when serving the same amount to each customer. When opening sparkling wine, we listen to the sound of opening the bottle, Alander continues.
The main judge of the Chef of the Year competition is the chef of BasBas Studio Kalle Tannerwho is the 2018 Chef of the Year 2018.
– It’s great that the competition has grown into a tradition and is known for its team spirit, Tanner commented in the press release.
The Chef of the Year received a scholarship of 10,000 euros donated by the Finnish Fair Foundation and a scholarship of 10,000 euros donated by the Waitress of the Year MaRa ry.
The visitors of the Food & Wine fair were also able to watch the competitions held at the Messukeskus. Santeri Stenvall
Chef of the Year 2025 finalists:
Piero Silvani, Bistro Ego
Tobias Malm, Restaurant HEJM
Zhao Wen (Gordon) Yam, Restaurant Grön
Otto Hietamies, Lapland Hotels Bulevardi, Kulta kitchen
Ville Neulanen, Restaurant Emo
Miika Keskitalo, Restaurant Scolare
Waiter of the Year 2025 finalists:
Leeni Hyvärinen, Freelancer
Kelvin Tse, Restaurant Grön
Sallamari Pietilä, Wintero
Katrina Laitinen, BasBas Kulma Oy
Emilia Salminen, Restaurant Pöllöwaari
Alma Syrjänen, BISOUBISOU brasserie & bar