SCAFT Student wins Aramark Ireland Chef of the Year 2026
Congratulations to our student Ana Maria Nechita on becoming the Aramark Ireland Chef of the Year 2026!
Ana is the Head Chef of Brabazon House Nursing Home in Sandymount, and is currently a student on our part-time programme TU742, on the Tallaght Campus, as well as a graduate of our part-time programme TU608 Professional Cookery.
Speaking about her win Ana said:
I’m so proud to be the 3rd woman to win this competition, and the first one coming from the healthcare sector. This result isn’t just mine – it’s thanks to my amazing team behind me, especially Executive Chef David Joyce at AIB Molesworth and his sous chef Jake Gamboa, who was last year’s Aramark Chefs Cup winner. It’s also down to so many incredible teachers at TU Dublin who gave me the knowledge and confidence to believe everything is possible. We had an amazing jury featuring Michelin-starred chef Ross Lewis and World Master Chef George Smith- – it was such a great experience. As a young chef and still a student, this is a huge result for me, but now there’s no time to dream – we need to work hard because the next step is the International Chef of the Year competition in June. This year it’s being held right here in Ireland, so it’s even more important that we try to win. Although I’m not Irish – I’m Romanian – it’s a matter of pride to give my absolute best to put Ireland and TU Dublin in first place. I hope that myself and my team colleague Philip Morrissey will be able to make it happen!
The Aramark Ireland Chef of the Year 2026 took place in CentralQuad, Grangegorman Campus, TU Dublin in January 2026.
Ana's Main Course: Organic Salmon, Crispy Salmon Skin, Torched Hispi Cabbage, Chive Emulsion, Bacon Crumb, Broccoli Puree, Potato Hash, Ume Sesame Seeds, Dashi Velouté finished with Chive Oil & Goatsbridge Trout Caviar
Ana's Dessert: Blackberry Cheesecake, Apple Puree, Pickled Blackberry Gel, Honey Tuile, Blackberry Sorbet
The very best of luck to Ana Maria Nechita in the next round of the competition 'Aramark International Chef of the Year' which will take place in June 2026.