Mentor Award

The Rising Stars Mentor Award is an award honoring the mentor chef who is most supportive of young cooks and most instrumental in aiding their career, both in and out of the kitchen. In each city, the Rising Stars Award winners vote anonymously for that city’s mentor chef; the winner is honored at the Rising Stars Gala and Honorees Dinner.

Mentorship is an essential component of Rising Stars. The Rising Stars Awards winners are the future leaders of their city’s (and America’s) culinary community – the Rising Stars Mentor Award is a way to celebrate the leaders that inspired them.

Rising Stars Mentor Award Winners

2009
Napa Sonoma Rising Stars (June 17th, 2009)
Chef Thomas Keller of The French Laundry—Napa, CA

Seattle Rising Stars (March 24th, 2009)
Chef Tom Douglas of Lola and Dahlia Lounge—Seattle, WA

2008
Las Vegas Rising Stars (October 22, 2008)
Chef Rick Moonen of RM Seafood

New York Rising Stars (September 16, 2008)
Chef Mario Batali of Babbo, Del Posto, Lupa, Otto, Esca, etc.

Chicago Rising Stars (May 19, 2008)
Chef Charlie Trotter of Charlie Trotter’s, Trotter’s To Go, and Restaurant Charlie

South Florida Rising Stars (May 3, 2008)
Chef Norman Van Aken of Norman’s and Tavern N Town


2007
Atlanta Rising Stars (October 11, 2007)
Chef Anne Quatrano of Bacchanalia, Quinones, Floataway Café and Star Provisions

New York Rising Stars (September 18, 2007)
Chef Daniel Boulud of Restaurant Daniel, Café Boulud, Bar Boulud, Boulud Brasserie and DB Bistro Moderne

San Francisco Rising Stars (June 19, 2007)
Chef Gary Danko of Gary Danko

Dallas Rising Stars (May 14, 2007)
Chef Stephan Pyles of Stephan Pyles