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Thomas Keller, Daniel Boulud and Jérôme Bocuse Give Back

Three renowned cooking legends, including Jerome Bocuse, Thomas Keller and Daniel Boulud, are mentoring young chefs with their unique organization called Ment'or Organization. Bocuse d'Or, created by Paul Bocuse in 1987, is the culinary equivalent to the Olympics. The world championship held every other year in Lyon, France, calls upon chefs to represent their countries by preparing elaborate presentations that include one of meat and one fish dish that are beyond amazing. "For me, I wanted to get involved in this mentoring opportunity for chefs, because it is part of my heritage, part of my family and a legacy that I hope endures from a personal perspective and for chefs all around the world," Paul's son, Jérôme, explains.

Behind this competition lives Ment'or, a nonprofit organization also created by Paul that fosters learning in young chefs across the country. "My father always had an affinity for the U.S., and he wanted to see the U.S. team gain more visibility during the biennial competitions, he asked chefs Thomas Keller, Daniel Boulud and myself to create what is now the Ment'or Foundation in order to train and fund Team USA for the Bocuse d'Or," Jérôme says.


Star Chefs Jerome Bocuse, Thomas Keller & Daniel Boulud

Ment'or offers one to two month grants for cost of living and salary for young chefs to continue their education through an unpaid internship in a leading kitchen. In addition to fostering growth in these individuals, the foundation can identify rising talent through the Young Chef Competitions, in hopes that one day they will go on to represent the U.S. team in the Bocuse d'Or.

"It is essential for young chefs to have the opportunity to experience new kitchen environments," chef Daniel Boulud tells us. "Working with other chefs and cuisines can give them the chance to elevate their skills and talent by giving them different perspectives that they can then incorporate into their own culinary repertoire."
Although, chefs like Boulud and Keller must endure some of their best cooks leaving for a month or two, the payoff is extraordinary. "The opportunity to stage at another restaurant can be trans-formative, both professionally and personally," Keller explains. "It is our hope that they return with a greater sense of awareness, which is one of our core values, the ethos of our restaurants."

Boulud adds, "It transforms them-they gain inspiration, confidence, knowledge and respect from their team. I often see a different level of cooking and a better understanding of the ingredients that they bring into the kitchen. Or sometimes it is more subtle, like a deeper belief in their capabilities and skills. I also observe a difference in how they interact with new interns in my kitchens, taking them under their wing and mentoring them with a goal of really grooming them."

The ability to mentor others is a key skill passed on from generation to generation. In describing his mentor, Roger Vergé, Boulud recounts, "He was really the first person to go beyond forming my cooking skills; under him, I took my first steps as a manager. He was the mentor who taught me how to mentor other chefs!"


Master Chef Roger Verge

According to Keller, "It is my belief that the best chefs are the ones who came before us: the innovators and influencers who inspired a generation of chefs and whose experience and expertise paved the way for the most refined and advanced culinary era in history." Visit: Ment'or Foundation.




By Bonnie Carroll

About Bonnie Carroll
Bonnie Carroll has been a food/travel/lifestyle writer since 1983. She is the founder & publisher of Bonnie Carroll's Life Bites News - www.lifebitesnews.com, does travel and food reporting on KZSB1290 radio, and contributes to a variety of national and international travel/lifestyle publications. Her first children's book C.C. Charles was published in 2002 and she is currently working on a second book. Contact her at Contact her at writebc@aol.com.

 

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