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Stage Stories

Click on the photos below to learn more about each grantee’s stage. Check back as we continue to update our page with more stories!

Todd DalBello

Grant location: Benu San Francisco, CA

Daniela Herrera

Grant location: Grace Chicago, IL

Maciej Kilminik

Grant location: The White Barn Inn Kennebunk, ME

David Kneller

Grant location: Grace Chicago, IL

Melissa Kuhn

Grant location: Benu San Francisco, CA

Daniel Moccia-Field

Grant locations: Bar Tartine & Manresa San Francisco, CA

Bethania Penia

Grant location: Restaurant DANIEL New York, NY

Jessica Seely

Grant location: Bayona New Orleans, LA

Brandon Silver

Grant location: Noma Copenhagen, Denmark

Jason Sipe

Grant locations: Le Pigeon & Little Bird Bistro Portland, OR

Mary Catherine Edmondson

Grant location: Saison San Francisco, CA

Cassandra Torres

Grant locations: Restaurant DANIEL & Eleven Madison Park New York, NY

Hernan Martinez

Grant location: RN74 San Francisco, CA

Chris Laico

Grant location: Per Se New York, NY

Angela Chung

Grant locations: Marguerite, l’Auberge du Pont de Collonges, & Bernachon Lyon, France

Alexander Yoon

Grant location: Restaurant Mirazur, Menton, France

Lincoln Marquis

Grant location: Per Se New York, NY

Henry Molina

Grant location: Noma Copenhagen, Denmark

Jonathan Tilles

Grant locations: State Bird Provisions & Manresa SF/ Los Gatos, CA

Rob Drennan

Grant location: Maaemo Oslo, Norway

Gretchen Mulero Ortiz

Grant location: Marea New York, NY

Kendall Ross

Grant location: Restaurant DANIEL New York, NY

John Troupis

Grant location: Victor’s Fine Dining by Christian Bau Nennig, Germany

Kaylin Lloyd

Grant location: Attica Melbourne, Australia

Michael Pini

Grant location: Fäviken Järpen, Sweden

Grayson Altenberg

Grant Location: The French Laundry Yountville, CA

Hoon Rhee

Grant location: Narisawa & L’effervescence Tokyo, Japan

Bradley Nicholson

Grant location: Amass Copenhagen, Denmark

Elaine Smyth

Grant location: The French Laundry Yountville, CA

Dan Filice

Grant location: Pineapple and Pearls Washington, DC

Michelle Moran

Grant Location: Bribery Bakery Austin, TX

Doug Brixton

Grant Location: La Maison Troisgros Roanne, France

Caitlin Head

Grant Location: Asador Extebarri Atxondo, Spain

Rory Weber

Grant Location: Amass Copenhagen, Denmark

Randall Prudden

Grant Location: Pujol and Maaemo Mexico City, Mexico and Copenhagen, Denmark

Larry Nguyen

Grant Location: Central Lima, Peru

Vincenzo Loseto

Grant Location: Noma Copenhagen, Denmark

Ryan Peters

Grant Location: The French Laundry Yountville, CA

Brendan Scott

Grant Location: Atera New York, NY

Lou Perella

Grant Location: Attica Melbourne, Australia

Alex Enright

Grant Location: Noma Copenhagen, Denmark

Ileene Cho

Grant Location: Le Meurice Paris, France

Franklin Arguelles

Grant Location: Den and La Bonne Table Tokyo, Japan

Rebecca Kozlowski

Grant Location: Hotel Plaza Athenée Paris, France

Davey George

Grant Location: Central Restaurante Peru

Sarah Hsieh

Grant Location:
Amass Restaurant
Copenhagen, Denmark

Chase Evans

Grant Location: The French Laundry Yountville, CA

Sam Daigle

Grant Location:
Restaurant A.T
Paris, France

Susana Querejazu

Grant Location: Le Meurice
Paris, France

Katherine Rock

Grant Location: Petit Crenn, Atelier Crenn & Water + Flour
San Francisco, CA

Emily Costello

Grant Location:
Meyers Bageri
Copenhagen, Denmark

Oscar Mata

Grant Location:
L’Auberge du Pont de Collonges
Lyon, France

Lizzie Styles

Grant Location:
Attica
Melbourne, Australia

Christopher Huang

Grant Location:
Saison and Pabu
San Francisco, CA

Rose Weiss

Grant Location:
Restaurant Frantzén & Mathias Dahlgren
Stockholm, Sweden

Christopher Audia

Grant Location:
La Pergola
Rome, Italy

Robert Hartmann

Grant Location:
El Celler de Can Roca
Girona, Spain

Samuel Meono

Grant Location:
Benu, Crenn Dining Group
San Francisco, CA

TJ Lewis

Grant Location:
Core by Clare Smyth London, England

Miguel Baez

Grant Location:
Mugartiz
Sebastian, Spain

Joatta Siebert

Grant Location:
Noma 2.0
Copenhagen, Denmark

Alex Fuentes

Grant Location:
Amass
Copenhagen, Denmark

David Yoshimura

Grant Location:
Kagurazaka Ishikawa
Tokyo, Japan

Brady Harlan

Grant Location:
Chambre Séparée
Gent, Belgium

Lauren McCann

Grant Location:
Jane
San Franscisco, CA

Anthony Young

Grant Location:
Brae Restaurant
Birregurra, Australia

Kiran Kim

Grant Location:
Mirazur
Menton, France

Eric Marting

Grant Location:
Per Se
New York, NY

Stuart Sandquist

Grant Location:
L’Auberge du Pont de Collonges
Lyon, France

Zachary Close

Grant Location:
Amass
Copenhagen, Denmark

Danny Sterling

Grant Location:
Blackbird
Chicago, IL

Grace Kim

Grant Location:
Osteria Francescana
Modena, Italy

Joe Maggio

Grant Location:
Attica
Melbourne, Australia

Latara Copes

Grant Location:
Mirazur
Menton, France

Briana Witt

Grant Location:
Bo.Lan
Bangkok, Thailand

Esther Ha

Grant Location:
Den in Tokyo, Japan and Restaurant Ester in Sydney, Australia

Nick Bahan

Grant Location:
Restaurant DANIEL
New York, New York

Daniel Domkowski

Grant Location:
Jacques Torres Chocolate
New York

Winnie Huang

Grant Location:
Tarte
Singapore

Ryan Walker

Grant Location:
Attica
Melbourne

Alexandra Motz

Grant Location:
Room4Dessert
Bali, Indonesia

Duy Nguyen

Grant Location:
Berlu
Portland, OR

Jack Stewart headshot

Jack Stewart

Grant Location:
Quintonil
Mexico City, Mexico

Allison Tschida

Grant Location:
Otium
Los Angeles, California

Zachary Swenson

Grant Location:
Disfrutar
Barcelona, Spain

Arun Astraelis

Grant Location:
Borago
Santiago, Chile

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2015-16 GRANT RECIPIENTS!

See what our grantees are up to on Instagram: #mentorgrants.

Joe Becerra

Apple Headquarters- Austin, TX

Grant location: Brae-
Sydney, Australia

Matthieu Cabon

Chefs de France- Orlando, FL

Grant location: Maison Pozzoli & Boulangerie Jocteur- Lyon, France

Torre Liebchen

etc steakhouse- Teaneck, NJ

Grant location: Schauenstein Schloss-
Switzerland

Michelle Moran

Chefs de France- Orlando, FL

Grant location: Bribery Bakery-
Austin, TX

Eduardo Osorio

Café del Rey- Marina Del Rey, CA

Grant location: Restaurant DANIEL-
New York, NY

Kendall Ross

The Broadmoor- Colorado Springs, CO

Grant location: Restaurant DANIEL-
New York, NY

Doug Brixton

Café Boulud- New York, NY

Grant location: La Maison Troigrois-
Lyon, France

Latara Copes

Le Cirque- New York, NY

Grant location: Mirazur-
Menton, France

Vincenzo Loseto

The NoMad- New York, NY

Grant location: noma-
Copenhagen, Denmark

Stephanie Moreno

Restaurant DANIEL- New York, NY

Grant location: Martin Berasategui-
Lasarte-Oria, Spain

Lou Perella

Olamaie- Austin, TX

Grant location: Attica-
Melbourne, Australia

Brendan Scott

La Folie- San Francisco, CA

Grant location: Atera –
New York, NY

Kevin Bui

One Restaurant, Chapel Hill, NC

Grant locations: Pineapple & Pearls/ Rose’s Luxury (Washington DC) & Canlis (Seattle, WA)

Alex Enright

The NoMad- New York, NY

Grant location: noma-
Copenhagen, Denmark

Lauren McCann

Apis Restaurant & Apiary- Austin, TX

Grant location: Jane-
San Francisco, CA

Gretchen Mulero Ortiz

Bouchon- Yountville, CA

Grant location: Marea-
New York, NY

Ryan Peters

Ocean Reef Club- Key Largo, FL

Grant location: The French Laundry-
Yountville, CA

Jonathan Tilles

Gramercy Tavern- New York, NY

Grant location: State Bird Provisions- San Francisco; Manresa- Los Gatos, CA

Angela Chung

Chefs de France- Orlando, FL

Grant location: Bocuse Restaurants-
Lyon, France

Caitlin Head

Semilla- Brooklyn, NY

Grant location: Asador Extebarri-
Spain

Henry Molina

Eleven Madison Park- New York, NY

Grant location: noma-
Copenhagen, Denmark

Larry Nguyen

Betony- New York, NY

Grant location: Central-
Lima, Peru

Randall Prudden

Spoon & Stable- New York, NY

Grant location: Pujol- Mexico City, Mexico; Maaemo- Oslo, Norway

2016 Young Chef & Commis Competition FAQs

Leave a reply

Can I bring pre-prepared items that take longer than the 2 hours and 35 minutes given?

The following is a list of pre-prepared items that are acceptable to bring:

Raw, Yeast-Raised Doughs: Example, puff pastry, brioche, etc.
Stocks: these may be partially reduced but not sauce consistency
Rendered Fats: Duck Fat, Beef Fat, etc.
Smoked fats
Infused oils
Powders
Non-reduced jus or fortified stock (as long as it is not a finished sauce)

Please let the Foundation know what you will be bringing, so that we can provide final approval.

Are we allowed to bring in things such as bone marrow, truffles, foie gras, etc?

Yes, however, please submit any additional protein items you wish to bring.

What prep can I do ahead of time?

Unless approved by the Foundation or included in the list above, cut or cooked items will be allowed. It is recommended that all ingredients be cleaned ahead of time, and root ends may be trimmed.
Peeled vegetables and fruit are acceptable but they may not be shaped in the process.
It is recommended that all items be scaled and measured ahead of time as much as possible.

Can I combine ingredients before I arrive or during the prep time?

No, all items must be kept separate; any items that are found pre-mixed will need to be separated before the competition begins or they will be removed from the candidate’s kitchen.

Can I bring hydrocolloids and measure them ahead of time?

Is it ok if I bring smoking chips to smoke?

What happens if two or more competitors need circulators, robot coupes, and kitchen aid mixers? Do we need to adjust our time-lines to share?

All candidates are encouraged to inform the foundation of their shared equipment needs so we can be sure all candidates have what they need during the competition.

What type of tasks and prep work is allowed during set-up time?

Candidates may set up their stations with all equipment and food items.
All appliances, stove, ovens, immersion circulator, etc may be turned on.
Water may be placed in pots or bowls but no food items may be placed in any of them.

May I bring my own pasta roller?

Yes, however, any additional equipment needs to be approved directly by the Foundation.

Can I present my dish whole to the judges before slicing?

No, all candidates may only present their dish as a plated presentation.

With the final dish, can there be a supplement dish or a sauce to be poured tableside?

All items must be served on the ten plates with the exception of one sauce that may be served by the candidate or service team at the judges’ table.

Do we receive complimentary tickets for family and friends?

For Young Chefs, you and your assistant will each receive 2 complimentary tickets; Commis candidates will also receive 2 complimentary tickets.

Note: We encourage you to work with mentors/ coaches, but they will not be able to come in to the kitchen during your prep/ competition time.

Ment’or Young Chef Competition Series

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2015 Young Chef Competitors

Bergen, Matthew New York, NY

Current Employer: Lupa Osteria Romana

New York, NY

Dengelegi, Michael Toms River, NJ

Current Employer: Bouchon Bistro

Yountville, CA

Foden-Clark, Lee Los Angeles, CA

Current Employer: Bouchon Bistro

Beverly Hills, CA

Garcia, Mark Bronx, NY

Current Employer: Winnisook Club

Big Indian, NY

Kneller, David Greensboro, MD

Current Employer: Bartlett Pear Inn

Easton, MD

Lansing, William Redondo Beach, CA

Current Employer: The Strand House

Manhattan Beach, CA

Liebchen, Torre Hackensack, NJ

Current Employer: etc. steakhouse

Teaneck, NJ

Loff, Max Golden Valley, MN

Current Employer: Spoon and Stable

Minneapolis, MN

McCarty, Zachary Staten Island, NY

Current Employer: El Vez

New York, NY

Medina, Angel Austin, TX

Current Employer: Fixe

Austin, TX

Tribble, Michelle Dallas, TX

Current Employer: Five Sixty by Wolfgang Puck

Dallas, TX

Peters, Ryan Key Largo, FL

Current Employer: Ocean Reef Club

Key Largo, FL

Serna, Mara Houston, TX

Current Employer: Treadsack

Houston, TX

Siegel, Corey Rye, NY

Current Employer: Westchester Country Club

Rye, NY

Stover, Skylar Napa, CA

Current Employer: Hestan

Anaheim, CA

Tokarz, Tim New York, NY

Current Employer: Café Boulud

New York, NY

#mentorgrants

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Keep up with the ment’or grantees using #mentorgrants on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook!

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2014-15 GRANT RECIPIENTS!

See what our grantees are up to on Instagram: #mentorgrants

Aghajanian, William

Per Se – New York, NY

Grant location: Brae – Australia/Elkano – Spain

Bahan, Nick

Bouchon Bistro – Yountville, CA

Grant location: Daniel – New York, NY

DalBello, Todd

Zzest Café – Rochester, MN

Grant location: Benu – San Francisco, CA

Domkowski, Daniel

JBI, LLC – Lake Buena Vista, FL

Grant location: Jacques Torres – New York, NY

Drennan, Robert

Qui – Austin, TX

Grant location: Maaemo – Norway

Edmondson, Mary Catherine

Qui – Austin, TX

Grant location: Saison – San Francisco, CA

Grodence, Dan

Acme Food & Beverage – Carrboro, NC

Grant location: The French Laundry – Yountville, CA

Herrera, Daniela

Qui – Austin, TX

Grant location: Grace – Chicago, IL

Hodson, David

The French Laundry – Yountville, CA

Grant location: Atera – New York, NY

Kilimnik, Maciej

Les Chefs de France – Lake Buena Vista, FL

Grant location: The White Barn Inn – Kennebunk

Kneller, David

Batlett Pear Inn – Easton MD

Grant location: Noma – Denmark

Kuhn, Melissa

Per Se – New York, NY

Grant location: Benu – San Francisco, CA

Laico, Christopher

Bouchon Bistro – Yountville, CA

Grant location: Per Se – New York, NY

Martinez, Hernan

Qui – Austin, TX

Grant location: RN74 – San Francsico, CA

Marquis, Lincoln

Louisa County High School – Mineral, VA

Grant location: Per Se – New York, NY

McKinney, Jason

The French Laundry – Yountville, CA

Grant location: Maison Pic – France

Moccia-Field, Daniel

Betony Restaurant – New York, NY

Grant location: Bar Tartine/Manresa – San Francisco, CA

Mosier, Jonathan

The Country Smokehouse – Almont, MI

Grant location: Bouchon – Beverly Hills, CA

Mouchet, William

Bouchon Bistro – Yountville, CA

Grant location: Team USA

Pena, Bethania

Santina – New York, NY

Grant location: Daniel – New York, NY

Schesher, Greg

Lower 48 Kitchen – Denver, CO

Grant location: Team USA

Sedlacek, Jessica

The French Laundry- Yountville, CA

Grant location: Per Se – New York, NY

Seely, Jessica

801 Fish – Leawood, KS

Grant location: Bayona – New Orleans, LA

Silver, Brandon

Qui – Austin, TX

Grant location: Noma – Denmark

Sipe, Jason

Pacific Lutheran University – Tacoma, WA

Grant location: Le Pigeon – Portland

Torres, Cassandra

Les Chefs de France – Lake Buena Vista, FL

Grant location: Daniel/Eleven – Madison Park, NY

Wang, Jenny

I Forgot It’s Wednesday – San Francisco, CA

Grant location: Atera – New York, NY

Whitlam, Samantha

Grant location: The Dinex Group – New York, NY

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