Show 539, August 19, 2023: Chef Thomas Keller, The French Laundry – 15th Anniversary of Ment’or Foundation

Thomas Keller and Young Yun of the Ment'or BKB Foundation

Ment’or, founded by chefs Daniel Boulud, Jerome Bocuse and Thomas Keller is a leading 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization devoted to inspiring culinary excellence in young professionals and preserving the traditions and quality of cuisine in America.” They are celebrating their 15th anniversary of achievement this year.

“Their aim is to build a sustainable community of young American professionals that are knowledgeable and confident in their career pursuits and will be life-long ambassadors of quality and excellence in the world of gastronomy. The organization is dedicated to making the careers of serious young individuals more meaningful and successful by offering them unique educational opportunities, internships, and access to a Culinary Council of established mentors.”

“Since 2008 it has been a key mission for the Foundation to enable the best young talent in America to effectively train for the privilege and honor of representing the United States as Team USA at the Bocuse d’Or in Lyon. The result of that patience and determination was realized for the first time in 2015 when Team USA stood on the podium with the Silver Bocuse, garnering the recognition and respect of the international culinary community. In January of 2017 Team USA proudly returned from Lyon with the Bocuse d’Or, having realized Monsieur Paul Bocuse’s dream of USA winning Gold.”

“Team USA is chosen through a national selection process that mimics the format and atmosphere of the competition that is held in Lyon biennially. Chefs from around the country apply to compete in the Team USA National Selection Event.”

“After the selection, the team trains full time in Napa, California during the course of a year, guided by a head coach, assistant coaches, advisors, and a designer. Throughout their training, the team receives feedback from their advisors and the Board via various tastings and coaching sessions.”

Team USA 2025 will be selected at the National Selection on Sunday, September 3, 2023 at The Culinary Institute of America at Copia campus in Napa, California.” The competition is open to the public and tickets are available.

Thomas Keller joins us to talk about 15 years of accomplishment for Ment’or.

Show 513, February 18, 2023: Team USA 2023 with Head Chef Jeffery Hayashi and Commis Franco Fugel, Bocuse d’Or Culinary Competition Part One

Jeffrey Hayashi is the head chef for the 2021 Bocuse D'Or

In late January Head Chef Jeffery Hayashi, Commis Franco Fugel and Head Coach Robert Sulatycky (Team USA 2023) represented their country at the world’s most prestigious cooking competition, The Bocuse d’Or International Culinary Competition in Lyon, France, where they competed in the most rigorous and celebrated cooking competition in the world.”

“Teams of some of the most brilliant culinary minds from 24 countries across the world gathered in Lyon, France, where they competed in the most rigorous and celebrated cooking competition in the world.”

“Team USA (supported by the Ment’or Foundation) competed on Monday, January 23rd and presented their platter “Postcard From Hawaii,” an homage to Chef Hayashi’s home. Their platter presentation contained the mandatory protein of monkfish, which was roasted and featured monkfish jus, ragout of mussels, hen egg custard and avocado green goddess. The platter presentations were designed by Martin Kastner of Crucial Detail, LLC. To further test each country’s creative abilities, each team developed a “Feed the Kids” menu, featuring a three-course meal highlighting pumpkin and egg as the main ingredients. Team USA artfully presented their menu, drawing inspiration from childhood fairy tales of “Cinderella,” “The Goose That Laid The Golden Eggs,” and “Snow White.””

Head Chef Jeffery Hayashi notes, “I am honored to have represented Team USA at this esteemed global culinary competition. I would not be here without the support of all the members of Team USA, but particularly that of my Commis, Franco Fugel and our Head Coach Robert Sulatycky. This was an opportunity of a lifetime for a chef and I will treasure this experience throughout my culinary journey.””

Ment’or is the non-profit organization that is responsible for recruiting, training and supporting Team USA.

Team USA placed outside of the medals round but their accomplishment in Lyon is still impressive. Our heartiest of congratulations for the extraordinary effort.

Team USA’s Head Chef Jeffery Hayashi and Commis Franco Fugel are our guests.

Show 513, February 18, 2023: Team USA 2023 with Head Chef Jeffery Hayashi and Commis Franco Fugel, Bocuse d’Or Culinary Competition Part Two

Commis Franco Fugel

In late January Head Chef Jeffery Hayashi, Commis Franco Fugel and Head Coach Robert Sulatycky (Team USA 2023) represented their country at the world’s most prestigious cooking competition, The Bocuse d’Or International Culinary Competition in Lyon, France, where they competed in the most rigorous and celebrated cooking competition in the world.”

“Team USA (supported by the Ment’or Foundation) competed on Monday, January 23rd and presented their platter “Postcard From Hawaii,” an homage to Chef Hayashi’s home. Their platter presentation contained the mandatory protein of monkfish, which was roasted and featured monkfish jus, ragout of mussels, hen egg custard and avocado green goddess. The platter presentations were designed by Martin Kastner of Crucial Detail, LLC. To further test each country’s creative abilities, each team developed a “Feed the Kids” menu, featuring a three-course meal highlighting pumpkin and egg as the main ingredients. Team USA artfully presented their menu, drawing inspiration from childhood fairy tales of “Cinderella,” “The Goose That Laid The Golden Eggs,” and “Snow White.””

Head Chef Jeffery Hayashi notes, “I am honored to have represented Team USA at this esteemed global culinary competition. I would not be here without the support of all the members of Team USA, but particularly that of my Commis, Franco Fugel and our Head Coach Robert Sulatycky. This was an opportunity of a lifetime for a chef and I will treasure this experience throughout my culinary journey.””

Ment’or is the non-profit organization that is responsible for recruiting, training and supporting Team USA.

Team USA’s Head Chef Jeffery Hayashi and Commis Franco Fugel continue as our guests.

Show 481, July 2, 2022: Team USA 2023 with Head Coach Chef Robert Sulatycky and Head Chef Jeffrey Hayashi

Robert Sulatycky, Head Coach of Team USA

“Since 2008 it has been a key mission for the Ment’or BKB Foundation based in New York to enable the best young talent in America to effectively train for the privilege and honor of representing the United States at the Bocuse d’Or in Lyon. The result of that patience and determination was realized for the first time in 2015 when Team USA stood on the podium with the Silver Bocuse, garnering the recognition and respect of the international culinary community. In January of 2017 Team USA returned from Lyon with the Bocuse d’Or, having realized Monsieur Paul Bocuse’s dream of USA winning Gold.”

“Team USA is chosen through a national selection process that mimics the format and atmosphere of the competition that is held in Lyon biennially. Chefs from around the country apply to compete in the Team USA National Selection Event.”

Jeffrey Hayashi is the head chef for the 2021 Bocuse D'Or

Team USA 2023 includes Head Chef Jeffrey Hayashi and Commis Franco Fugel. The Head Coach is Bocuse d’Or veteran, Chef Robert Sulatycky.

The next stop for Team USA on the long road to Lyon in January is the Bocuse d’Or Americas competition in Santiago, Chile on July 14th, representing all the countries of the American continent. Eight teams will be vying for the five places to advance to the Grand Finale in Lyon.

If Team USA advances from Santiago (nothing is for-sure) then in January 2023, Team USA travels to Lyon, France to compete in the prestigious Bocuse d’Or competition, fighting for a spot on the podium and the world’s culinary stage.

Taking a short break to join us from the intensive on-going practice sessions at the Ment’or Training Kitchen at the Copia Campus in Napa of the Culinary Institute of America are Team USA’s Head Coach Robert Sulatycky and Head Chef Jeffrey Hayashi.

Show 310, February 9, 2019: Chef Robert Sulatycky, Head Coach, Team USA 2019, Bocuse d’Or

Robert SulatyckyAfter over a year of intensive training, Team USA, comprised of Chef Matthew Kirkley, Commis Mimi Chen and Head Coach Robert Sulatycky, represented their country in Lyon, France on January 29th at the world’s most prestigious culinary competition, the Bocuse d’Or. Team USA was defending the Gold statue from 2017.

Over the course of two days last month, teams of some of the most brilliant culinary minds from 24 countries across the world met in Lyon, France where they competed on the world stage at the esteemed Bocuse d’Or culinary competition.

On Day 1 Team USA presented to a prestigious panel of international judges their version of Suckling Veal Rack with 5 Prime Chops, featuring Roast Rack of Veal with Veal Kidney Farce & Apicius Spice Glaze / Salad Pastorale. The plated presentation was Vegetable Chartreuse with Shellfish, featuring Vegetable, Herbs, Shellfish Chartreuse and Cockle Butter.

Congrats to Team Denmark on First Place and the Gold Statue.

Chef Sulatycky, just back from Lyon, provides the concluding update on this year’s event.

Show 310, February 9, 2019: Chef Robert Sulatycky, Head Coach, Team USA 2019, Bocuse d’Or Continues…

Robert SulatyckyAfter over a year of intensive training, Team USA, comprised of Chef Matthew Kirkley, Commis Mimi Chen and Head Coach Robert Sulatycky, represented their country in Lyon, France on January 29th at the world’s most prestigious culinary competition, the Bocuse d’Or. Team USA was defending the Gold statue from 2017.

“Every two years, the heart of the Sirha trade exhibition in Lyon, France beats to the beat of the final of the prestigious Bocuse d’Or contest. After many months of preparations, twenty-four of the most promising chefs in the world experience two days of intense competition during which they will have to give their very best in order to try and win the most beautiful trophy in the world of gastronomy.”

For Team USA it’s now looking ahead to 2021. Applications will be going out in April for 2021. Finalists will then be evaluated and selected. A competition will be held late this year in Las Vegas or Napa to then select Team USA 2021 and the training will start anew in the ment’or BKB Bocuse d’Or training kitchen at CIA’s Copia campus in Napa.

Ment’or BKB welcomes your contributions in support of Team USA and young culinarians.

Show 252, December 16, 2017: Chef Mimi Chen, Commis, Team USA 2019, Bocuse d’Or International Culinary Competition

Mimi ChenIn our continuing coverage of the biannual Bocuse d’Or International Culinary Competition and Team USA 2019’s pursuit of defending the Gold for America we’ll meet Team USA 2019’s newly selected Commis, Chef Mimi Chen formerly a Line Cook at Daniel Patterson’s highly regarded COI in San Francisco.

On November 9th in The Palazzo Ballroom at The Venetian / Palazzo Resorts in Fabulous Las Vegas the spirited competition for the Team to proudly represent Team USA 2019 (under the aegis of the sponsoring Ment’or BKB Foundation) was held. Each finalist team had 5 hours and 35 minutes to prepare an exquisite meat recipe (Snake River Farms American Wagyu Whole Bone-In Rib Roast) presented on a platter as well as a Norwegian Seafood Steelhead Trout creation individually plated. Mimi was the Commis for the victorious team headed by Executive Chef Matthew Kirkley, ex-COI.

Both Chefs Matthew and Mimi will now train intensively in Napa, CA for the next year in preparation for the Bocuse d’Or in Lyon.

Show 151, December 19, 2015: Chef Philip Tessier, Head Coach, Team USA 2017, Hestan Culinary Director

Philip TessierAfter more than a decade in the kitchens of the Thomas Keller Restaurant Group, Chef Philip Tessier led Team USA to a historic second-place finish at the Bocuse d’Or in the 2015 competition. The Bocuse d’Or is among the most demanding international cooking competitions, pitting chefs from twenty-four countries against one another in a marathon five and a half hour cooking challenge.

Chef Tessier will be the Head Coach for Team USA in 2017. Over the last several months Tessier has traveled around the country mentoring the four teams competing to represent the United States as Team USA 2017 in Lyon at the Bocuse d’Or.

Chef Tessier was also part of the distinguished judging panel of chefs on December 17th at the Venetian in Las Vegas to select Team USA 2017.

Show 151, December 19, 2015: Chef James Kent, Executive Chef, NoMad, NYC, ment’or BKB Culinary Council

James KentChef James Kent led Team USA 2011 for the Bocuse d’Or, served as Competition Captain for the Team USA 2017 selection and a member of the ment’or BKB Culinary Council. Chef Kent is the Executive Chef of the acclaimed NoMad in New York City. A new NoMad is on its way to Downtown Los Angeles in 2017. We’ll meet him.

A native New Yorker, Chef James Kent started his culinary career as a summer apprentice at Bouley when he was fifteen years old. Chef Kent joined the team at Eleven Madison Park as a line cook in the spring of 2007 and was quickly promoted to Sous Chef.

In 2011, Chef Kent was chosen to represent the United States at the Bocuse d’Or in Lyon, France. After a year of intense training for this culinary competition, he placed tenth in the world. Upon returning to New York, Chef Kent was named Chef de Cuisine of Eleven Madison Park and during his time there, the restaurant received numerous accolades including three Michelin stars. Chef Kent was promoted to Executive Chef of the NoMad in the fall of 2013.

Show 114, March 14, 2015: Chef Gavin Kaysen, Spoon & Stable, Minneapolis

While we were waiting to connect with Chef Gavin in Minneapolis, Kedric explained the fascinating evolution of restaurants over the years at South Coast Plaza. There is something for every taste and price level but the accent is always on quality. No Food Court there. For instance the long-running McDonald’s was replaced last year by Din Tai Fung a favorite for Shanghai-style soup dumplings with a worshipful, foodie cult following.

Gavin kaysenIn the words of Chef Gavin Kaysen : “In the past year, I’ve left New York City where I had the pleasure of cooking alongside Daniel Boulud running his Café Boulud brand; opened Spoon and Stable in my hometown of Minneapolis; served as the head coach for Team USA as we won a record-breaking Second Place in the Bocuse d’Or; and led my restaurant to become a semifinalist for Best New Restaurant from the James Beard Foundation Awards. I’m looking forward to sharing the next steps of my journey with you.”

First we’ll chat with Gavin about his work with Team USA and Bocuse d’Or USA Foundation which is now known as men’tor BKB Foundation. Chef Gavin represented the United States at the 2007 Bocuse d’Or, a prestigious, international culinary competition hosted biennially in Lyon, France.

He was personally selected by Chefs Daniel Boulud and Thomas Keller, both men’tor BKB Foundation Directors & Founders, to serve as the Head Coach of the Bocuse d’Or USA Team in both 2013 and 2015.

Chef Gavin Kaysen joins us.