London chef wins a historic gold at international youth culinary Olympiad

For the first time, a UK participant has won the Young Chef Olympiad (YCO), the world’s largest culinary competition for young chefs.

Kamran Taylor, an 18-year-old student chef from London, representing England, has secured gold. Launched in 2015, this is the first time in the competition’s history that a participant from the UK has claimed the top prize. This year’s final took place in Goa, India.

Kamran, a third-year student at Capital City College’s culinary and hospitality school, triumphed over competitors from more than 50 countries with his fish dish of baked barramundi with mousse. The YCO, an annual event organised by the International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM), attracts the most promising culinary talents from across the globe, making this a truly historic win for London and the UK, and reinforcing London’s reputation as a global food capital.

Angela Joyce, CEO at Capital City College, said: “This is an extraordinary achievement, not just for our student but for the UK’s culinary scene as a whole. Winning against the world’s best young chefs is a testament to the exceptional training, talent, and passion that we cultivate at Capital City College, Westminster.’

The competition, which featured intense rounds of cooking challenges, tested competitors on technique, creativity, taste, and presentation, under the scrutiny of a panel of international judges. With this victory, the UK joins the ranks of elite culinary nations and reinforces London’s reputation as a global food capital.

Kamran was able to participate in the competition thanks to a financial contribution from The Savoy Education Trust.

Introducing the champion

Meet Kamran Taylor, the 18-year-old from Alexandra Palace who’s just put the UK on the global culinary map. Unlike many in his field, Kamran didn’t grow up surrounded by a love of cooking—he only discovered it during lockdown, when he started baking banana bread and making spaghetti bolognese. That casual pastime soon turned into a passion, and with the full support of his family, he decided to follow it seriously. A quick internet search led him to Capital City College, where he’s now in his third year of a Professional Chef Diploma.

Kamran spends his weekends teaching at the college’s Young Baker Academy and has already built up impressive work experience with stints at Fallow restaurant and, starting imminently, Conran London St James’s Street. He’s inspired by chef Adam Byatt and believes that a strong foundation in classical techniques will help him carve out his own unique style in the future. Living in London—a city brimming with diverse cuisines and world-class restaurants—has played a huge role in shaping his culinary journey, giving him endless opportunities to try new flavours and techniques.

Competing at the Young Chef Olympiad wasn’t just about cooking—it was a test of adaptability. Kamran trained two to three times a week, including Saturdays, with mentor Chef Chris Basten, Commercial Development Chef at Capital City College. The challenges during the competition were real; from working with unfamiliar equipment to battling the intense Indian heat, which made handling ingredients like chocolate particularly tricky. During one round, his blender broke down completely, forcing him to rearrange his schedule on the fly while a working one was found. But he took it all in his stride, proving his ability to stay calm under pressure—an essential skill in any professional kitchen.

So what’s next for this rising star? First up are his final-year exams in late spring, but beyond that, he’s hoping to land a place on the prestigious Glenfiddich internship programme, which offers hands-on experience across fine dining and hospitality. And after that? He’s keen to keep learning, gaining as much experience as possible before one day opening his own restaurant. Given that Capital City College has produced several Masterchef winners, who knows? We might just see Kamran on our screens before long.

When asked what advice he would give to any young person considering a career in professional cheffing, Kamran has a simple but powerful message: ‘Just do it’, emphasising the importance of perseverance and taking every opportunity to learn from those around you.

If you’re interested in a career in the culinary arts, find out more about our Hospitality and Culinary Arts courses and apply now!

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