The Master School competition is intended for students studying in Finnish restaurant industry educational institutions or for Bachelor of Hospitality Management students who have already graduated as chefs.

The 2026 competition will be organized as an invitational event.

The goal of the Master School competition is to highlight and promote Finnish restaurant industry schools (vocational colleges, institutes, and universities of applied sciences) and their students. The purpose of the competition is also to increase interest and respect for restaurant industry education and to develop cooperation between restaurants, companies, schools, and students.

The Master School competition is held every two years.

Master School 2026 will take place on March 12th at the Gastro Helsinki 2026 event.

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Finalists

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• Yonah Mattsoff and Qilun Li, coached by Antti Porna, Perho Business College

• Sami Pulkki and Jami Matara, coached by Ville Parkkinen, Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences

• Cetin Güzide and Liisi Sundman, coached by Riikka Mantila, Turku Vocational Institute

• Mariia Tolochko and Oleksandr Yeromenko, coached by Jyri Bemerståhl, Keuda

• Head Judge: Harri Veckman, Head of Food Development at Kespro
   

Participating Institutions
 

This year, four Finnish restaurant industry schools are participating in the Master School 2026 competition: Perho Business College, Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, Turku Vocational Institute, and Keuda the Central Uusimaa Municipal Education Association.

Perho Business College is one of Finland’s most well-known and respected restaurant industry schools. Located in Helsinki, the school has been training top professionals for decades and offers students a strong foundation for careers in kitchen and customer service.

Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences is Finland’s largest and internationally recognized educator of Bachelor of Hospitality Management students. The Food Production Management program focuses on the business environment of the food service industry and the cornerstones of service business.

Turku Vocational Institute provides real professions and excellent readiness to enter working life following your own path,  whether that means an apprenticeship, matriculation examination, skills competitions, entrepreneurship training, international opportunities, or a personal sports career.

Keuda, the Central Uusimaa Municipal Education Association, is a provider of vocational education located in Central Uusimaa. Keuda’s owner municipalities are Järvenpää, Kerava, Mäntsälä, Nurmijärvi, Pornainen, Sipoo, and Tuusula. Keuda has about 12,000 students.

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Competition tasks

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The competition is an invitational event for educational institutions. Participants can be culinary students or Bachelor of Hospitality Management students who have already graduated as chefs. The competition is held in pairs.

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Task 1: Fish Handling

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The pair must fillet one round fish (domestic whitefish). The jury will pay attention to:

• Quality of filleting (cleanliness of fillets, minimizing waste, technique)

• Utilization of the whole fish in other tasks during the day

• Overall cleanliness
   

Time allowed: 10 minutes. Only one competitor performs this task.
 

Participating schools must inform in advance whether they want the fish scaled or unscaled.
 

Task 2: Vegetarian Dish
 

The pair must prepare a vegetarian dish in a GN-sized container (1/1–65). The dish should be suitable for school meals or other public sector kitchens.
 

The dish must include partner ingredients: Myllärin Long-Grain Oats and Fort Deli’s Anamma.
 

Pre-processed vegetables (fresh, canned, frozen) may be used. Ingredient choices should consider cost-effectiveness (no predefined price point).
 

Time allowed: 90 minutes.
 

Task 3: Three-Course Menu

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The pair must prepare a three-course menu (starter, main, dessert) for 12 people using the available partner ingredients. The task must be completed within three hours.

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The menu must include:

• Meat in the starter

• The fish from Task 1 in the main course

• Oats 2.0 in the dessert
   

Recipes for Tasks 2 and 3 must be submitted to the jury by email no later than March 10, 2025.

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The winning pair of Master School 2026 will be announced after the final during the award ceremony on March 12, 2026.
 

The competition is organized by Food Camp Finland Oy together with its partners. The head judge of the competition is Chef Harri Veckman. The head judge participates in scoring and makes the final decision in case of a tie if the jury cannot reach an agreement.

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MESTARIKOULU 2024

 

Jenni Poola ja Kuro Tomperi: Omnia, Espoo

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II

Lidia Belardinelli ja Dzianis Aliaksiuk: Haaga-Helia, Helsinki

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III

Yuliia Bodenko ja Hanna Shevchenko: Keuda, Mäntsälä 

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IV

Aino Kaarkoski ja Mila Nykänen: Stadin AO, Helsinki

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Special awards presented by Mestarikoulu sponsors

Most innovative duo (Electrolux Pro)

Jenni Poola ja Kuro Tomperi: Omnia, Espoo

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Best co-operation in kitchen (Arla Pro)

Lidia Belardinelli ja Dzianis Aliaksiuk: Haaga-Helia, Helsinki

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Best street food (Vaasan)

Yuliia Bodenko ja Hanna Shevchenko: Keuda, Mäntsälä 

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MESTARIKOULU 2022

Niki Sipilä & Jasper Juutinen: Turun ammatti-instituutti TAI, Lemminkäisten koulutalo

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II

Alessandro-Geron Korro & Dzianis ”Denis”Aliaksiuk: Omnia, Espoo

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III

Miika Airas & Matias Kunnari:  Tampereen ammattikorkeakoulu TAMK

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IV

Raine Leppinen & Valtteri Repo: Stadin ammatti ja aikuisopisto, Helsinki  

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Special awards presented by Mestarikoulu sponsors

 

Best dessert (Valrhona)

Alessandro-Geron Korro ja Dzianis ”Denis”Aliaksiuk, Omnia, Espoo

 

Best co-operation in kitchen (Arla)

Alessandro-Geron Korro ja Dzianis ”Denis”Aliaksiuk, Omnia, Espoo

 

Best visual (E.Ahlström)

Niki Sipilä ja Jasper Juutinen, Turun ammatti-instituutti, TAI, Lemminkäisten koulutalo

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MESTARIKOULU 2020

Juho Lindström & Piero Silvani: Haaga Helia, Helsinki

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II
Jonathan Sjöholm & Anton Björklund

Ålands Yrkesgymnasium, Ahvenanmaa  

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III
Christian Lepomäki & Aleksi Lukka

Haaga Helia, Helsinki

 

IV
Roni Laitinen & Janne Korhonen

Haaga-Helia, Helsinki

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​Semifinalists 2020

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Christian Lepomäki & Aleksi Lukka
Haaga-Helia, Helsinki
 

Juho Lindström & Piero Silvani
Haaga-Helia, Helsinki
 

Juuso Rautiainen & Jimi Voutilainen

Haaga-Helia, Helsinki
 

Virma Almeida Da Veiga & Yves Kyle Felicilda
Varia Hiekkaharju, Vantaa
 

Jonathan Sjöholm & Anton Björklund
Ålands Yrkesgymnasium, Ahvenanmaa
 

Hiep Nguyen & Leevi Starck
Perho liiketalousopisto, Helsinki

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Niko Leminen & Veeti Rantakokko
Ammattiopisto Lappia, Muonio
 

Roni Laitinen & Janne Korhonen
Haaga-Helia, Helsinki
 

For media-related questions, please contact:

Sirkka Norha
Marketing and Communications Director
sirkka.norha@foodcampfinland.fi

+358 503 475412

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