Welsh chefs Sion Hughes and Calum Smith have made their country proud, securing sixth place in the highly competitive Global Chefs Challenge Final held in Singapore. Representing the Culinary Association of Wales (CAW), the pair competed at the Worldchefs Congress & Expo, demonstrating remarkable culinary skill against the world’s best chefs.
Sion Hughes, a 26-year-old head chef at The Spa at Carden Park near Chester, and Calum Smith, 23, a pastry chef at Shrewsbury School, impressed the judges with a stellar four-course menu, earning silver medals. Their dishes included a vegan starter, a halibut fish course, a main course featuring three cuts of veal, and a dessert with Valrhona chocolate and Dilmah tea. The duo came remarkably close to the top five, trailing fifth-place Australia by just half a point.
Guided by their mentor Graham Tinsley, executive head chef at Carden Park Hotel and Spa, Hughes and Smith, the Welsh Chefs shine on the Global Stage in Singapore, showcasing months of dedicated practice and preparation. Tinsley praised the young chefs for their commitment, noting that their passion made mentoring a rewarding experience. The chefs met every Monday to refine their dishes, with their hard work paying off as they delivered their best-ever performance in the final.
Reflecting on the achievement, Sion Hughes expressed pride in their sixth-place finish, attributing their success to the teamwork and preparation he shared with Calum. Sion said: “I’m proud of the achievement and I couldn’t have done it without Calum. It would have been nice to finish in the top five, but at least we know that we delivered exactly what we had been practicing for months.”
“Sion delivered over and above what we had practiced and there was no negative feedback from the judges. It shows our ambition that we were looking for a top five finish,” added Calum.
Arwyn Watkins, OBE, president of CAW, celebrated the duo’s accomplishment, acknowledging the impressive feat of securing sixth place against some of the world’s top culinary nations. With the spotlight now on Wales, he noted that all efforts are turning toward hosting the next Global Chefs Challenge Finals at the Worldchefs Congress & Expo, set to take place at ICC Wales, Newport from May 16-19, 2026.
This success marks the culmination of a two-year journey for Hughes and Smith, who qualified for the global final in February 2023 at the North Europe heat in Rimini, Italy, where they earned silver medals. Their journey, from competing against over 100 countries to placing among the top 16, exemplifies the dedication and passion that Welsh chefs bring to the global culinary stage.
Looking to the future, Hughes is eager to support Calum if he is selected to represent Wales at the 2026 event. Calum has entered the Junior Chef of Wales competition at the upcoming Welsh International Culinary Championships 2025 at ICC Wales in January, aiming to secure his place at the next congress and expo.
Wales’ hosting of the Worldchefs Congress & Expo 2026 represents a historic milestone as the first time the prestigious event will be held in the UK. This global showcase of talent and creativity will bring together the world’s culinary elite in Newport, further solidifying Wales’ reputation in the international culinary community.
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