The sea as a playground, twelve women in the crosshairs and a legendary school to decide between them: the 2026 final of La Cuillère d’Or is already intriguing. A 100% female gastronomic competition, it brings together chefs and pastry chefs from Ukraine, Italy and all over France around the same theme. Curiosity rises.
On November 9, 2026, in the kitchens of FERRANDI Paris, six cooking finalists and six pastry finalists will have three hours to interpret Infiniment mer on seven identical plates. Here’s who they are, and where they come from.
The 2026 Golden Spoon: a 100% female final at FERRANDI Paris
Created in 2010 by Marie Sauce-Bourreau, the competition is in its 8th edition and remains entirely reserved for professionals. In 2026, the international final of La Cuillère d’Or will be held at FERRANDI Paris: three hours of work to create, depending on the category, a savory creation or a plated dessert, all served in seven copies.
On its website, the La Cuillère d’Or team explains that the competition was designed for , we can read on its official website. She recalls that a vintage of the Michelin Guide cited only included 17 restaurants run by women out of 621, which gives the extent of the issue.
The 6 finalist chefs in the kitchen of La Cuillère d’Or 2026
For the Cuisine Trophy, six chefs will come together behind the stove to interpret the sea in a savory version, each with their own interpretation of the theme, supported by a substitute.
- Olga Martynovska, Restaurant Beef, Kyiv (Ukraine).
- Aude Poizat, Santos-Dumont high school, Saint-Cloud (92).
- Gina Nataf, Buenazo Traiteur Latino, Vannes (56).
- Émilie Oberlin, Pretzel and Caramel, La Gacilly (56).
- Léa Bernard, Lily of the Valley Hotel, La Croix-Valmer (83).
- Natacha Morin, Allo Natacha, Cast (29).
- Substitute: Ilona Gouzien, Maison Branche, Charmont-sous-Barbuise (10).
The 6 finalist pastry chefs and the challenges of the 2026 Pastry Trophy
In Pastry, the challenge will be sweet: three hours too to create a plated dessert around Infiniment mer, served in seven copies. The finalists are Andréa Soledad Lopez (Grand Hotel Abano Terme, Italy), Mariia Barieva (Pâtisserie Boulangerie Vincent, Verlinghem), Élise Petit (L’Envers du Décor, Saint-Émilion), Fatoumata Meite (Public House, Paris), Illi Ouabdelkader (Maison Vatelier, Rouen) and Khadija Hammou (Lycée hôtelier de Biarritz).
In reserve, the substitute Julie Roudier, attached to the Aubenas Hospital, will be able to join the pastry finalists in the event of withdrawal. The two trophies will be judged by juries made up of big names, chaired on the kitchen side by the Meilleur Ouvrier de France Pierre Caillet and on the pastry side by pastry chef Noémie Honiat, a sign of the level of demands expected on the big day.
When and where does the 2026 La Spoillère d’Or final take place?
It will be held on November 9, 2026 in the kitchens of FERRANDI Paris.
How many finalists are participating in La Cuillère d’Or 2026?
Twelve chefs: six finalists in cooking, six in pastry, plus two alternates.
What is the imposed theme for La Spoillère d’Or 2026?
The theme common to both trophies is Infiniment mer, performed in three hours.
