Vancouver Five Sails chef Tengis Battur was named the winner of the S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Competition 2026-27 Canada Regional Final in Toronto, earning the opportunity to represent the region at the prestigious Grand Finale in Milan in 2027.
Following a day of competition, Battur impressed the judges with the dish ‘Steppe Into Spring’, reflecting his journey and ambition to help shape the future of Mongolian cuisine on the world stage, demonstrating exceptional technical skill, creativity and a clear vision for the future of gastronomy.
“Winning the Canada Regional Final is an incredible honour and a meaningful milestone in my culinary journey,” said Battur. “Through ‘Steppe Into Spring’, I wanted to share a story of my heritage while showcasing the creativity and potential of Mongolian cuisine. I’m grateful to the jury, my mentors and everyone who has supported me along the way, and I’m excited to represent Canada at the Grand Finale in Milan.”
For the past two-and-a-half years, Battur has worked with chef Alex Kim at Five Sails. Kim, the 2025 Canadian Culinary Champion, served as his official mentor throughout the competition.
The Canada Regional Final was judged by Daniel Hadida of Restaurant Pearl Morissette, Briana Kim of Antheia, and Quinton Bennett of O’Rourke Family Estate.
In Milan, Battur will compete alongside the winners from 14 other regions for the S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Award.
The S.Pellegrino Young Chef Competition is open to chefs aged 18 to 30 and was created to identify the best young chefs from around the world.
