Ukrainian chef Olga Martynovska, widely known to audiences as a former judge of the MasterChef culinary show, has won first place at the international La Cuillère d'Or 2026 competition. She announced her triumph on her personal Instagram account immediately after the final, calling the competition "the only international culinary and pastry competition for women." According to Styler (a project of RBC-Ukraine), Martynovska did not hide her emotions and addressed the Ukrainian audience saying: "YESSS! Ukraine, we did it!"
The Only International Competition for Female Chefs
La Cuillère d'Or 2026, according to the winner herself, is the only international competition in the world focused exclusively on female chefs and pastry chefs. For Martynovska, participating in the final was not just a professional milestone, but an opportunity to "live a small, cool life like before, with a pleasant stress that has nothing to do with the war." The chef emphasized that throughout the contest, she felt support from subscribers and commenters, which she said gave her strength: "I felt such power in myself, as if energy was flowing from the Earth's core!"
A Tribute to Colleagues Who Left the Kitchen to Defend the Country
Martynovska made a special point in her address to mention colleagues from the world of culinary arts and hospitality who left their beloved profession due to the war and took up arms. "I want to dedicate my victory to all my colleagues from the world of culinary arts and hospitality who left their beloved kitchen, their restaurant, and went to defend us! I dedicate it to the colleagues who are no longer with us," she wrote. This dedication turned a professional award into a personal gesture of solidarity with those who continue to work in kitchens amidst combat conditions and those who will not return.
Perfectionism on Vacation: An External View on the Result
Despite her victory, Martynovska did not abandon her usual critical attitude toward her own dishes. "My perfectionist is unhappy because some details in my dishes could have been even better. But let him rest today, because I won," she noted with humor. At the same time, the chef admitted that she was nervous before the final, even though she "thought she was afraid of nothing," and promised to talk more later about the competition, the participants, the judging, and her own experiences.
From the Village of Yurivka to the International Stage
In the end of her post, Martynovska reminded everyone of her roots: "I am Olya, born and raised in the village of Yurivka, Mykolaiv region. Everything is possible, the main thing is to never stop!!! Never." Earlier this year, she moved to work in Spain, where she headed the kitchen of a luxury yacht, which became another stage in her international professional journey. Victory at La Cuillère d'Or 2026 confirms that the Ukrainian gastronomic school continues to hold a prominent place on the world stage, even in conditions where many of its representatives are forced to combine their profession with defending the country.
