The 2026 International Final of the Jeunes Chefs Rôtisseurs Competition is due to be held in Istanbul, Türkiye, within a programme of events from April 14th - 18th.

This will the fourth time that the International Final has been hosted by the National Bailliage of Türkiye. As a result, the Chaîne News Online was curious to learn how the careers of the winners of the previous three Finals held in Istanbul (in 2001, 2013 and 2023) had developed.

Here’s what was discovered …

2001 - Viktor Angmo (Sweden)
Viktor won the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs International Jeunes Chefs Competition in Istanbul, representing Sweden. The same year, Viktor was named Sweden’s Game Chef of the Year and was part of the Swedish Junior Culinary Team, where he achieved a bronze medal at the Culinary Olympics. At this time, he moved from Stockholm to Hedemora and started as Head Chef at Dala-Husby Hotell & Resataurang.

From 2004 to 2017, Viktor was the owner and Head Chef of Dala-Husby Hotell & Restaurang, which he operated together with his wife Malin and her family. During this period, the restaurant was consistently recognized in the White Guide (Ed. Sweden’s equivalent of the Michelin Guide). It received the award “Årets värt en resa” (English: “Worth a trip this year”) in 2009 and was classified as “Svensk Mästarklass” (English: “Swedish Master Class”) for several years, including 2011, 2012, and 2013. The restaurant was at one point ranked as high as 32 in the White Guide. Dala-Husby Hotell & Restaurang also became a member of the Petit Hotel network.

During Viktor’s years in Dala-Husby, he built long-term collaborations with local growers and food producers. He and his wife Malin also had five children during this period.

From 2017 to 2022, he worked at ICA Maxi Borlänge (Ed. ICA is the leading grocery retailer in Sweden), where he held responsibility for fresh food operations and contributed to the development and growth of the catering business.

Between 2022 and 2025, Viktor fulfilled various roles within ICA Sweden. Since 2025, he has been Store Manager at ICA Kvantum, with overall responsibility for operations, sales, profitability, and leadership.

2013 - Jan-Phillip Berner (Germany)
The 2013 winner of the International Jeunes Chefs Rôtisseurs Competition, Officier Maître Rôtisseur Chef Jan-Phillip Berner remains very Chaîne-minded.

In 2007, Jan-Philipp Berner completed his training with distinction and a scholarship. He began his culinary journey at Jörg Müller’s gourmet restaurant on Sylt. This then led him on to the gourmet restaurant Tschifflik in Zweibrücken and in 2009 to the North Sea island for the first time at the Söl’ring Hof. Here he first worked alongside Johannes King as chef gardemanger and saucier and finished his chef’s degree with flying colours until he was drawn to Bergisch Gladbach to work for two years in 2011.

In 2013 he cooked his way to the title of the Chaîne’s best young chef in Germany, followed four months later by the title of world champion young chef when he won the International Final of the Jeunes Chefs Rôtisseurs Competition held in Istanbul, Türkiye, with participants from 20 nations.

In September 2013, he returned to Sylt as head chef and has had overall responsibility for the gourmet restaurant since 2018, together with Bärbel Ring, alongside the then host Johannes King. The philosophy of “authentic North German cuisine that focuses on the quality of high-quality and forgotten regional products” not only convinces the guests of Söl’ring Hof, but also Gault-Millau, which named Johannes King and Jan-Philipp Berner Chef Duo of the Year in 2019.

In January 2022, Jan-Philipp Berner succeeded Johannes King and took over as Managing Director of the operating company, host and chef at the helm of Söl’ring Hof alongside Bärbel Ring.

Since May 2023, Berner has formed the top trio in the kitchen as culinary impetus with the two chefs Benedikt Arps and Jan Fehling. Furthermore in 2023, the Söl’ring Hof was again awarded 2 stars by the Guide Michelin.

2023 - Joseph "Joey" Baffoe (USA)
Joseph (Joey) Baffoe from Chicago is the youngest American to win the International Jeunes Chefs Rôtisseurs Competition. As the winner of the 2023 International Final, Joey was awarded an Intensive Cuisine Certificate course at the prestigious culinary school, Le Cordon Bleu Paris. After this intensive six-week programme, Joey returned to the USA having accepted the position as Chef in one of “The Alinea Group” Michelin-starred restaurants.

In an interview with Le Cordon Bleu Paris, Joey shared his thoughts on his time at the famous, well-respected culinary school which has a long association with the Chaîne.

When asked what his background was, he replied, “Aged 15 I began cooking and worked my way up through numerous professional kitchens. I received a culinary school scholarship which introduced me to a whole new world of cooking. I worked at prestigious clubs throughout the US and continued my training/education however possible. I entered competitions and won Gold at Regional, National and International levels. Recently I became the second American ever to win the Chaîne’s International Jeunes Chefs Rôtisseurs Competition. Having accepted a position with Michelin-starred “The Alinea Group” I was excited to return to Chicago after my training in Paris!”

A very busy young man these days, as of late 2025 he is very involved in the culinary scene, including roles in Charleston, South Carolina.

2026 Winner?
Who will be victorious to join Viktor, Jan-Phillip and Joey as the winner (48 in total to date) of this year’s International Jeunes Chefs Rôtisseurs Competition?

Prepared by a Chaîne News Online Staff Writer
Researched from various sources. E&OE