Dalila Zambelli from Waffenplatz Isone could hardly believe her luck when Sven Epiney announced her name as the winner of "gusto21". The Ticinese convinced with an appetiser consisting of pike-perch balls with almond crust, pike-perch parsley mosaic, pepperoni panna cotta and vegetable salad.
For the main course, she served chicken and quail thighs and yin and yang of chicken and quail stuffed with mushrooms, served with courgette blossom, pumpkin salad, mashed potatoes and pumpkin puree.
As the best chef trainee in Switzerland, the 20-year-old from Ticino wins a two-week stay in Shanghai and Beijing with exciting insights into renowned gastronomy businesses.
Second place went to Seline Grossenbacher from Restaurant Stucki, who will receive a one-week stay in Vienna as a prize. Luca Heiniger from the Panorama Hartlisberg restaurant came third. He gets to explore the culinary world in and around Ascona for a week.
Competition cooking under special circumstances
This year's "gusto" edition took place under special circumstances. For the first time, not all finalists cooked their menus at the same time, but in three groups spread over two days.
In addition, the jury was reduced in size and the competition kitchen was divided with plexiglass so that all Corona protection measures could be observed at all times.
Instead of a gala evening, the award ceremony was held directly after the cooking competition in the auditorium of the Baden Vocational School (BBB), without the public present.
"After last year's Swiss championship for apprentice chefs had to be cancelled due to Covid-19, we are happy that nine talented chefs were able to present their skills at 'gusto' again in 2021. This is an important event for the apprentices, especially at times like this when opportunities elsewhere are limited. And after all, they have already been preparing for this competition for months, mostly in their free time," Philipp Dautzenberg, Chairman of the Management Board of delivery and pick-up wholesaler Transgourmet/Prodega, was pleased to say.
The company organised "gusto" for the 16th time under the patronage of the Swiss Culinary Association.
Ranking list
| Rank | Name | Place of work | Apprenticeship year |
| 1. | Dalila Zambelli | Isone Arms Range, Isone | 2. |
| 2. | Seline Grossenbacher | Restaurant Stucki, Basel | 3. |
| 3. | Luca Heiniger | Restaurant Panorama Hartlisberg, Steffisburg | 2. |
| 4. | Ramona Dänzer | Laupen Centre for the Elderly, Laupen | 3. |
| 4. | Giulian Dattilo | Brüderli Gastronomy, Pratteln | 2. |
| 4. | Martina Manzione | Waffenplatz Thun, Thun | 3. |
| 4. | Chiara Raetzo | Restaurant Zum brennenden Herz, Rechthalten | 3. |
| 4. | Silvan Saxer | Gasthof zum Schützen, Aarau | 2. |
| 4. | Benjamin Voegtlin | Hotel Restaurant Eichberg, Seengen | 2. |
Transgourmet Schweiz AG, Moosseedorf
transgourmet.ch
