Abby Cadman, the CEO of Feste Group, and Tegan Waters, the group’s general manager, are spearheading a culinary revolution with the new competition Young Chef Young Waiter and Young Mixologist. They share their journey, motivations and aspirations for this new endeavour
Abby Cadman’s journey in the food and beverage industry started when she became the founder and CEO of her events and catering business Feste Group, the parent company of catering firms Relish and Gingers, five years ago. Her business partner Tegan Waters has more than 15 years of experience in the dining industry, having previously worked in events and marketing for Madame Fu Grand Café Chinois in Tai Kwun and at Pomegranate Kitchen in Wong Chuk Hang. Together, they are bringing the prestigious global Young Chef Young Waiter and Young Mixologist (YYY) competition to Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand this year.
Following some of the toughest years for the industry, the decision to bring YYY to Hong Kong was fuelled by a desire to rejuvenate the local hospitality scene. The YYY competition was established in 1979 in the UK to promote hospitality as a career of choice and the duo hopes to keep this legacy going. Cadman explains, “The struggles we went through over the past few years and the deflated sentiment among our industry peers made us feel like we needed to do something about it. We couldn’t keep blaming the economic environment; we had to act on what we could control and make our own magic happen.”
Abby Cadman (Photo: Somsak Saree)
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Waters agrees: “The hospitality industry in Hong Kong is filled with so many talented and passionate people who have just not had the opportunity to shine yet. We are here to change that narrative.”
What sets YYY apart from other culinary competitions is its comprehensive approach, celebrating not just chefs and mixologists but also the often-overlooked service staff. “Most hospitality competitions around the world champion the chef and the food, and more recently, mixologists and their cocktails,” says Waters. “The service element is often overlooked, yet this is arguably the most important part of a guest’s experience in a restaurant or at an event.”
Cadman highlights the opportunity this competition offers to young talents: “The competition is open to those aged 28 and under, which provides a unique opportunity to the contestants. They often don’t have as many years of experience but they have the ability to challenge themselves and get creative. With YYY, they have the opportunity to rub shoulders with and show off their skills to their industry heroes, becoming part of a global community that can open so many doors for them,” she says.
