Newport Charter Yacht Show: Spotlight on Culinary Excellence
Highlights from the 2025 Newport Charter Yacht Show Chef Competition, where top yacht chefs showcased creativity and culinary skill.
The Newport Charter Yacht Show Chef Competition is one of the most anticipated culinary events in the charter yacht industry. In 2025, chefs once again pushed creativity and technique to the next level, delivering standout dishes under pressure.
Key Questions
- What is the Newport Charter Yacht Show Chef Competition?
- Who won the 2025 Chef Competition?
- How does the mystery basket format work?
- Why is this event important in the yacht charter industry?
The Newport Charter Yacht Show, under the leadership of Show Director Veronica Brown and Assistant Show Director Allie Bradshaw, once again delivered an impressive display of luxury power and sail yachts available for charter. Held in picturesque Newport, Rhode Island, June 2025, the event drew top industry professionals—and while the weather was undeniably hot, the real heat came from the galley!
Always a crowd favorite, the Yacht Hop dazzled guests with themed onboard celebrations. But it’s the Chef Competition that truly steals the spotlight year after year—and 2025 was no exception.
Winne DeCoster organized the Chef Competition on behalf of the Show, and this year’s culinary challenge added a twist of suspense and spontaneity. Each chef drew a theme at random and then selected their ingredients from a bountiful (and mysterious) selection of produce generously donated by National Marine Suppliers. The result? A true “mystery basket” test of creativity, technique, and passion for cooking at sea.
A panel of three esteemed judges—Chef Kevin Des Chenes (Culinary Director, Newport Mansions and Private Chef), Kitty McGowan (former yacht chef and president of the U.S. Superyacht Association), and a surprise guest judge—evaluated the dishes based on taste, presentation, creativity, and how well each chef captured their theme.
1st Place – Chef Gabriela “Gabi” Piotto of M/Y In the Zone, with a beautifully curated “Anniversary” themed dish. Chef Gabi navigated straight to victory with a dish that let the ingredients do the talking—striped bass, black rice, and a tempura nest that made waves without showing off.
2nd Place – Chef Garrett Hamilton of M/Y Acta, who wowed the judges with his “New Year’s” theme entry of potato-crusted bass, confit vegetables, and a delicate champagne sabayon.
3rd Place – Chef Katie Provenza of M/Y Temptation, whose “Bachelorette Party” inspired menu included crudo, compressed watermelon, tomato water, and chili oil—a playful and vibrant combination that captured the celebratory spirit.
As always, the Newport Charter Yacht Show reminded us that the best chefs don’t just cook at sea—they create unforgettable culinary journeys. Congratulations to all the competitors who brought their passion and artistry to the table!
Capt. Jan Robinson is the author of the Ship to Shore Cookbook Collection; She holds certificates from the Cordon Bleu Cooking School, Paris, The Ecole Ritz Escoffier, Paris, the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) New York, and graduated from the International Integrative Nutrition as a Health Coach. The Charter Yacht Brokers Association Inc. inducted Jan into their Hall of Fame in December 2019 at the Antigua Yacht Show. Books are available on Amazon or email [email protected].
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Capt. Jan Robinson has written for ALL AT SEA since 2005.
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