The chef, representing the US, won over judges with his signature dish of ‘roasted duck with spiced orange and yam’ and counsel from assigned mentor chef Dominique Crenn.

Mitch Lienhard was elected by a distinguished jury of seven internationally-acclaimed chefs, known as the “Seven Sages”, including David Higgs, Carlo Cracco, Gaggan Anand, Elena Arzak, Mauro Colagreco, Wylie Dufresne and Roberta Sudbrack.

The extensive evaluation process was based on the criteria of the five “Golden Rules” of ingredients, skills, genius, beauty and message. The Young Chef 2016 award ceremony was followed by a Gala dinner prepared by Massimo Bottura, whose Osteria Francescana of Modena, Italy, is number one in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list 2016.

This year’s Grand Finale ceremony also included the awarding of two additional prizes. To celebrate the dish that best presents traditional elements in a contemporary way, the “Acqua Panna Contemporary Tradition Award” was given to Italian Alessandro Salvatore Raspisarda representing Italy.

Additionally, for the first ever, an award voted by the public on www.finedininglovers.com for the most inspiring dish concept, the “Inspiring Message Award by S.Pellegrino”, was presented to winner Daniel Nates from Mexico, representing Latin America.