Gavin Kaysen

Gavin Kaysen is the head coach of the 2013 Bocuse d'Or USA team and represented the USA as a competitor in the 2007 Bocuse d'Or. The Bocuse d'Or, named after legendary chef Paul Bocuse, is the world's most challenging and prestigious culinary competition. It takes places in Lyon, France every other year and features chefs from 24 countries competing for the title.

Originally from Bloomington, MN, Gavin worked as Chef at San Diego's Rancho Bernardo Inn for over three years. Previously, he gained international experience at l'Auberge de Lavaux in Lausanne Switzerland and under Marco Pierre White at London's l'Escargot. Learning abroad confirmed for Chef Kaysen the importance of taking opportunities to stage in other kitchens to expand his repertoire. In the fall of 2005, he decided to take a few weeks off from his own kitchen to spend time in the restaurant of the best chef who would have him. As a result, he did a brief internship in the kitchen at DANIEL. Just over two years later, that fortunate choice led him to the Executive Chef position at Daniel Boulud's Café Boulud in New York.

Gavin was named one of Food & Wine Magazine's 10 Best New Chefs (2007) and competed in the Fall 2007 Next Iron Chef TV series. Gavin was also the winner of the James Beard Foundation's prestigious award for Rising Star Chef of 2008.