Yvan Chevalier, who will be acting as Jury President, won the prestigious Meilleur Ouvrier de France in 2018 and recently opened La Boutique in Rennes to share his specialties and celebrate his Breton roots. 

For him, PLAY! means chefs should express their playful sides and surprise him with interactive experiences that convey emotions and break the rules. At the same time, he'll be holding the chefs to a high standard: "This is a national selection! The quality of the work, the clarity of the details, the creativity, and the multitude of techniques are important criteria for me."

Michel Ernots was born in Liege, Belgium, and began his party career there, earning the title of Best Apprentice in Belgium in 2012. He joined the Capagnon du Devoir (earning the Compagnon title) and has since worked all over the world. He is the co-founder of The Pastry Academy by Amaury Guichon.

For Chef Michel, PLAY! will require "Imagination, whimsy, creativity, textures, and flavours properly balanced." He'll expect contestants to push themselves outside of their comfort zone. 

As a pastry chef and educator, Chef O'Donnell has a wealth of experience from which to draw as she judges this year's chefs' assignments. She is currently a Baking and Pastry Arts Professor at Niagara College and owns Willow Cakes & Pastries. 

The theme of PLAY! opens up a world of opportunities for this year's competition. "Play to means no boundaries. When you are allowed to express all the ideas in your head, allowing food to become fun and magical." She expects contestants to demonstrate innovative approaches and techniques while never neglecting crucial small details.