The Ment’or Young Chef & Commis Competitions (YCC) returned to Las Vegas on April 16, 2026, with two premier competitions designed to spotlight the next generation of American culinary talent.
In the Young Chef competition, candidates 28 years of age and younger selected an assistant to train and compete alongside them. Young Chefs had 2 hours and 30 minutes to cook and plate a unique dish. The Commis competition was for cooks 21 years of age and younger. Each commis had 90 minutes to showcase his or her technical skill and execution.
For the 2026 competition, finalists were required to create an original recipe featuring a signature protein from Snake River Farms. Judges evaluated each team's/candidate's preparation of the selected protein, along with excellence in overall taste, presentation, and kitchen organization.
Following the competitions, The Venetian Resort hosted “Celebrating 18 Years of Ment’or,” an exclusive ticketed event at Thomas Keller’s acclaimed restaurant, Bouchon. A longtime supporter of Ment’or, The Venetian Resort championed the organization’s efforts to educate and elevate emerging American culinary talent.
The event featured a distinguished group of culinary leaders, including Chefs Thomas Allan, Paul Bartolotta, Jérôme Bocuse, William Bradley, Gerard Craft, Maxime Delangle, Olivier Dubreuil, Steven Greene, Jeffery Hayashi, Gavin Kaysen, Thomas Keller, Timothy Hollingsworth, E.J. Lagasse, Alex Lee, Angela Mar, Mawa McQueen, Kevin Meehan, Roland Passot, Mathew Peters, Melissa Rodriguez, Richard Rosendale, Dr. Tim Ryan, Robert Sulatycky, and Ming Tsai.
First place winners in the Young Chef and Commis competitions earn the opportunity to travel to Lyon, France, to attend the prestigious Bocuse d’Or Finale, one of the most rigorous and celebrated culinary competitions in the world. Second place winners will be hosted at the Bocuse d’Or Americas Selection in New Orleans, July 2026. All travel, accommodations, and meals are provided for both experiences. Both first and second place winners also have the option to receive a cash prize instead.*
Updates and applications for the 2027 Young Chef & Commis Competitions will be released at a later date. Follow us on Instagram for the latest news.
