Three young hospitality professionals have won Monaco’s premier competition for chefs, waiters and mixologists, securing their place at the world finals next year. 

The Young Chef Young Waiter and Young Mixologist Monaco competition aims to discover hospitality talents working in the Principality and promote careers in the industry. Now in its second year, the event is open to professionals aged 28 and under working in Monaco’s restaurants, hotels and bars.

Clara Germain, Clara Babkine and Eric Maccario emerged victorious from 10 finalists at the Lycée Rainier III, where competitors took part in cooking, mixing and serving challenges throughout the day.

Germain, a private chef and owner of Gioia, won the Young Chef category. Babkine from Louis XV-Alain Ducasse à Hôtel de Paris took the Young Waiter title, while Maccario from Buddha Bar was named Young Mixologist. The trio will represent Monaco at the World YYY Final in London at the end of February 2026.

The 10 finalists came from multiple establishments, including Métropole, Hôtel de Paris–Le Grill, Le Blue Bay and Gaia Monaco.

Robert Lee Mulcahy, President of YYY Monaco, said the competition has become an important annual event for the Principality. “The aim is to have a constant supply of new talent each year for the local hospitality sector,” he said, adding that the standard of competitors showed the sector was “in good hands going forward”.

The competition’s goal is to promote hospitality as a career choice and attract young students to study at the school.

After the cooking, mixing and serving challenges and demonstrations, the judging panel took several hours to reach their decisions, given the high standard of all finalists. Judges included Joël Garault, retired from the Hôtel Hermitage, Laurent Pilot from Hôtel Hermitage, and Jordan Callen, Executive Chef of Trinity Monaco. Previous YYY Monaco winners also participated as judges, shadowing experienced professionals.

The competition’s main supporter was Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer, while NEFT Vodka sponsored the Mixologist category and Pernod Ricard provided Perrier Jouët Champagne and wines.

Headmaster Leslie Giobergia presented the awards at an evening ceremony attended by judges, invited guests and the finalists’ friends and family

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Main photo: Young Chef winner: Clara Germain – Private Chef La Giola, Président YYY Monaco: Robert Lee Mulcahy, Young Mixologist Winner: Eric Maccario – Buddha Bar and Young Waiter Winner: Clara Babkine – Louis XV – Alain Ducasse à Hôtel de Paris, photo credit: Frederick Duchesne