Concours de Chef
Chef & Yacht Table Design and Service Competitions
Calling all yacht chefs and crew, we invite you to showcase your creative talent by taking part in our culinary & yacht table design and service competitions.
26th Annual Antigua Charter Yacht Show’s Prestigious Concours
de Chef & Yacht Table Design and Service Competitions
2026 Chef Competition Theme:
'The Culinary Compass - Charting the Future of Yacht Dining'
The compass has guided mariners for centuries - through uncharted waters, across vast oceans, toward destinations unknown. Today, a new generation of yacht chefs is navigating an extraordinary journey; one defined by artistry, professionalism, sustainability and an unwavering commitment to culinary excellence at sea.
The 26th Annual Antigua Charter Yacht Show's Concours de Chef invites chefs and stewards/stewardesses to set their culinary compass and chart the future of yacht dining. Honoring the traditions that brought us here, embracing the sustainable practices that will carry us forward, and pioneering the bold new flavors and experiences that define the next generation of charter dining.
CHEF COMPETITION
Chefs are invited to create a three-course dining experience that represents their culinary north star - the philosophy, passion and professional identity that defines them as a yacht chef. Each course should reflect a distinct point on their culinary compass:
First Course - Origin (where you come from): A dish inspired by your culinary roots; the cuisine, culture or mentor that first shaped your identity as a chef.
Main Course - Mastery (where you stand today): Your signature; the creation that best represents your craft and culinary identity today.
Dessert - Horizon (where the profession is headed): A forward-thinking, innovative creation that points toward the future of yacht dining; unexpected, imaginative and technically brilliant.
Sustainability is not a restriction - it is a compass point. Chefs are encouraged to let responsible sourcing, seasonal ingredients and minimal waste guide their creativity rather than limit it.
Please note: Bonus points will be awarded for exceptional sustainability practices woven naturally into the menu.
Mystery Ingredient Challenge
As in previous years, each chef will be presented with a mystery ingredient(s) during the Chef’s Briefing. The mystery ingredient(s) MUST be showcased in one of the three courses.
Please note: if the mystery ingredient(s) are not utilized, points will be deducted from your overall score.
Competition Day
- You will be notified just prior to the judges' arrival.
- You will provide 6 printed menus: 1 for the coordinator and 1 for each of the 5 judges.
- You will have 30 minutes to serve your 3-course meal to the panel of 5 judges and the coordinator of the competition.
- For each course: serve 5 taster-sized dishes and one full-sized presentation dish to be photographed. All 6 plates of each course will be tasted by the 5 judges and the coordinator. Please serve the full-sized presentation dish to the coordinator of the event, Chef Elizabeth Lee, for photography and tasting.
Please note: You are required to stay within the 30-minute time frame. If the time is extended, points will be deducted from your overall score. Judges will arrive to the yacht 5–10 minutes prior to the judging window to ensure they have enough time to be seated. The 30 minutes begins as soon as the judges are seated for service.
Judging Criteria For The Chef Competition
Chefs will be judged based on a points system following the criteria listed below:
- Appearance and presentation: Visually appealing.
- Taste: Flavor/seasoning/balanced flavors.
- Creativity: Creative use of the theme and mystery ingredient(s).
- Execution: Well-executed cooking techniques.
- Overall appeal: Originality/creativity.
2026 Yacht Table Design and Service Competition Theme:
'The Compass Setting - Charting the Future of Yacht Table Design'
YACHT Table DESIGN AND SERVICE Competition
The compass has four cardinal points - North, South, East, West - each one a gateway to a world of its own. For centuries, these four directions have carried mariners toward new cultures, new climates, new cuisines and new experiences. Now, the table becomes the compass.
In the 26th Annual Antigua Charter Yacht Show’s Yacht Table Design & Service Competition, stewards and stewardesses are invited to choose their compass point and bring it to life at the table - through design, through service, through atmosphere and through every considered detail in between.
Please note: Competitors are not required to represent all four compass points in their table design. The four cardinal directions are offered as inspiration and a framework for creative thinking - your design need only choose one direction and make it entirely your own.
The Four Points & Their Possibilities
Each cardinal point below is provided to give the competitors ideas. These are starting points, not boundaries:
North ❖
Crisp, clean and considered. Nordic minimalism, arctic palettes of white, slate and silver, the quiet drama of winter light. A table that feels like a breath of fresh, frost-kissed air. Precision in every fold, every placement, every interaction.
South ❖
Warmth, abundance and soul. The rich, earthy tones of South America, the Mediterranean, sub-Saharan Africa, or the deep American South. Vibrant textiles, layered colour, the generous spirit of cultures where the table is the heart of the home. A service style that feels like a warm embrace.
East ❖
Ancient elegance and refined ceremony. The artistry of Japanese omakase, the spice routes of the Middle East, the imperial grandeur of India, the delicate beauty of Southeast Asian design. A table where every element carries meaning, where service is ritual, and where stillness speaks volumes.
West ❖
Bold, pioneering and free. The wild coast of the Pacific, the open ranges of the American West, the sun-drenched shores of California or Portugal. A table with confident energy, natural materials and a sense of adventure. Service that is warm, assured and effortlessly stylish.
What the Judges Are Looking For
This competition is about more than a beautiful table. It is about a complete, immersive guest experience - one that a charter guest would remember long after leaving the yacht. Stewards and stewardesses are asked to consider:
- The Visual Story: Does the table immediately communicate its compass point? Is there a clear, cohesive design narrative from centerpiece to place setting?
- The Sensory Experience: Have you considered scent, texture, light and sound as part of the overall ambiance?
- The Service Journey: How does your service style reflect and enhance your chosen compass point? Does the way you present, pour and interact with the judges feel intentional and aligned with the world you have created at the table?
- The Detail: The finest charter experiences live in the details. Linen choices, glassware, menu presentation, floral or natural elements, crew attire - every touchpoint is an opportunity.
- Originality: No two compass points tell the same story. We are looking for a table that could only belong to your yacht, your crew, your vision.
Sponsored Bottle
At the Chef’s Briefing, the stewards/stewardesses of each yacht will be presented with one bottle of the sponsored wine or champagne. The sponsored bottle must be showcased within your table design. Please ensure the bottle is collected at this time.
Please note: If the sponsored bottle is not utilized in the table design, points will be deducted from your overall score.
Your decorated table setting should be in the same location where the chefs serve their creations and include place settings for 6 guests. All 5 judges and the coordinator of the competition (6 persons), will be sitting and dining at the table.
TABLE DESIGN & SERVICE JUDGING CRITERIA
- Appearance & Presentation: visual impact, cohesion and communication of the chosen compass point.
- Creativity & Originality: depth of interpretation, unexpected elements and the uniqueness of the overall concept.
- Service & Atmosphere: how the service style, crew attire and guest interaction enhance and complete the experience.
- Overall Impression: the lasting impact of the complete table design and service experience as a unified whole.
“The compass does not tell you what you will find. It simply reminds you that every direction holds a world worth exploring.”
RegistRATION
Registration for the Chef's Competition and Yacht Table Design and Service Competition is now open!
- We only accept 10 yachts in each yacht size category.
- The first 10 successful entries will receive an email within 48 hours of registering to confirm receipt.
- At that time, they will also be given additional instructions.
- A briefing will be held for all confirmed entries at the beginning of the show. Location: The Copper and Lumber Store Hotel, Nelson's Dockyard.
All entrants are requested to attend and must email chefscomp@antiguayachtshow.com if they are unable to do so.
Please note: All competing yachts must receive a confirmation email from chefscomp@antiguayachtshow.com confirming their registration for the competition. Without this confirmation, the yacht will not be eligible to compete.
Important: Registration for the Antigua Charter Yacht Show does not automatically enter you into the Chef and Steward/Stewardess Competitions. Separate registration is required.
enter the cONCOURS DE CHEF competition online
Just fill in our simple form to register your interest.
Competition Categories and Judging Days
The exact time judges will come aboard will be given at the briefing. Judges will be onboard for 30 minutes and all three courses must be served within that timeframe or points will be deducted.
1. Yachts 180ft and Over Judged on Saturday 5th December 2026
2. Yachts 126ft to 179ft Judged on Sunday 6th December 2026
3. Yacht 125ft and Under Judged on Monday 7th December 2026
Gallery
Get inspired by the delectable dishes and stunning tablescapes crafted by previous years’ competition participants.
