ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR FOURTH ANNUAL MENT’OR BKB FOUNDATION YOUNG CHEF COMPETITION AND SECOND ANNUAL COMMIS COMPETITION
Ment’or’s programs celebrate the culinary talent that exists in the US and provide unique opportunities for young chefs to be recognized on a national stage
(New York, NY; June 15, 2017)—The ment’or BKB Foundation announces the fourth annual Young Chef Competition and the second annual Commis competition.
The Young Chef Competition launched in 2014 to recognize outstanding young chefs throughout the country. Selected candidates, between the ages of 22 and 28, and their assistants (ages 24 and under) compete in a 2 hour and 35-minute live cooking competition in front of a panel of esteemed chef judges, scoring on taste, presentation and kitchen organization. 2017 Young Chef and Commis competition winners will earn the coveted opportunity to stage with Team USA 2019.
Chef Vincenzo Loseto, winner of the 2016 Young Chef Competition says, “The opportunity to participate in this competition was pivotal to my cooking career. Training for the event made me more efficient and organized, and gave me the confidence I needed at a young age. Since competing, I feel that I have a new perspective on cooking and I try to achieve excellence in everything I do.”
The second annual Commis competition also returns, in order to inspire those embarking on their culinary careers and to introduce more aspiring young cooks to the Bocuse d’Or. Candidates, who are under 21 years of age, will compete in an hour and a half live cooking competition and will be judged on excellence in overall taste, presentation and kitchen organization.
Ment’or Board Officer and Team USA Vice President, Gavin Kaysen, comments, “It is our responsibility to inspire and promote the next generation of chefs in the US. Programs such as the Young Chef & Commis competitions foster this through mentorship and education. As I look at the young chefs in my kitchen, I can’t think of a better opportunity for growth and exposure.”
The competitions are a great way for these young cooks to showcase their talents and skills before some of the most renowned chefs in the country, including ment’or founders, Chefs Daniel Boulud, Thomas Keller and Jérôme Bocuse.
Candidates of both the Young Chef Competition and the Commis competition will be paired with mentors from the Foundation’s culinary council, including previous Bocuse d’Or Team USA representatives, to guide them throughout their training. Winners will have the choice of a cash prize or the exciting opportunity to work with Team USA 2019.
Applications available on the ment’or website through Wednesday, July 19, 2017. Applications and additional details about the ment’or Young Chef and Commis Competitions can be found on the ment’or website and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
About ment’or
The ment’or BKB Foundation is a nonprofit that aims to educate and inspire excellence in young culinary professionals and also preserve the traditions and quality of cuisine in America. Ment’or is led by Founders Chefs Daniel Boulud, Thomas Keller and Jérôme Bocuse, as well as an esteemed Culinary Council of over forty renowned chefs. Educational grants and internships are offered to culinary professionals through the Continuing Education Program. The Young Chef and Commis Competition series offer yet another opportunity for them to further their careers. Ment’or is also responsible for recruiting, training, and financially supporting the promising young American talents who represent Team USA in the prestigious biennial Bocuse d’Or competition, held in Lyon, France. For the first time in history, Team USA 2017 won the coveted Gold Medal at the Bocuse d’Or.
For all media inquiries, please contact:
Ment’or BKB:
Jaimie Chew
Director, Communications & Events
646-519-7111
jaimie.chew@mentorbkb.org
