Simon Lachapelle wins season 15 of Les Chefs !
Montreal chef Simon Lachapelle, 28, was crowned grand winner of season 15 of Les Chefs! during the finale that aired Tuesday, June 16, 2026, on ICI Télé. The chef, who has cooked at Montréal Plaza and Juliette Plaza for nearly seven years, walks away with first place and a $70,000 prize.
Over the course of the season, the competition put the young chefs through a series of demanding challenges, testing their technique, creativity and ability to perform under pressure. Week after week, Simon stood out for the consistency of his plates and his calm in the kitchen, two qualities that served him well right up to the final service.
For this final challenge, hosted by Élyse Marquis, the three finalists had to build a five-course menu around the five fundamental tastes: sweet, salty, sour, bitter and umami. It’s a demanding exercise that leaves little room for error, since each course has to put one taste in the spotlight while remaining balanced and coherent within the whole meal. Simon’s tasting journey won over the jury of Jean-Luc Boulay, Isabelle Deschamps Plante, Normand Laprise and Pasquale Vari. After tasting his starters, Boulay went as far as to call the plate “une tuerie,” a knockout.
Known for his composure and his sense of organization, the ITHQ graduate kept things simple right up to dessert. “I cooked with my heart,” he said.
Behind him, Jana Larose, chef at Comptoir de l’Auberge in the Mauricie, takes second place ($20,000), while Ludovic Hans Cormier, co-chef at Moccione in Villeray, rounds out the podium ($10,000). Congratulations to all three finalists, who showed just how much talent Quebec’s young generation of chefs has to offer.
For fans of Montréal Plaza and Juliette Plaza, this victory comes as a well-deserved recognition of the work of a chef who has helped shape their kitchens for years. We can’t wait to see what Simon Lachapelle will cook up next.
At Tastet, we write with our heart too, and we always share it wholeheartedly with you.
Written by Jean-Philippe Tastet
Photography by Alison Slattery
