Chef of the Year

Do you have what it takes to be the next Australian Professional Chef of the Year? 

Entries are now open

Chef of the Year is the most prestigious chef competition in Australia open to any professional chef working in a café, restaurant or commercial kitchen. Entries are open for the next competition that will take place on 19 - 21 May 2024 at the ICC, Darling Harbour, Sydney.

This event see's chef compete against chef and the clock in a test of creativity, culinary knowledge and ingenuity. The chosen 32 finalists will have one hour to prepare 2 dishes from a mystery box of ingredients and will be scored by a team of respected industry judges.

Every competitor will receive a certificate, chef jacket and sponsored products. The winners will share in over $20,000 cash and prizes. 


Enter Here 

Rules & Tips   

See the 2023 Results   

2023 Judges:

John McFadden

Scott Pickett, Director & Chef

The Scott Pickett Group

George Calombaris, Culinary Director

Hotel Sorrento

Telina Menzies, Executive Chef

Australian Venue Co.

Gary Johnson, Group Executive Chef

ALH Hotels

Mark Normoyle, Executive Chef

Lunas Food & Wine Bar, Fonterra Australia

Beth Candy, Executive Sous Chef

Montalto

Jerry Mai, Executive chef

Bia Hoi & Pho Nom

Jenna Louise Cunningham, Head Chef

Lucy Liu Kitchen and Bar

Andrew Ballard, Owner & Chef

Simmer Culinary

2023 MCs:

Glenn Flood

Leadership Trainer

Tawnya Bahr

Straight to the Source

Competition Director

Peter Wright

Global Hospitality Group

Previous winners of Chef of the Year


2010: John Lanzafame, Hugo’s (NSW)

2011: Nicolas Poelaert, Embrasse (VIC)

2012: Neil Abrahams, Royal Canberra Golf Club (ACT)

2013: Neil Abrahams, Royal Canberra Golf Club (ACT)

2014: Matthew McCool, Altitude (NSW)

2015: Chris Malone, Balthazar (WA)

2016: Matt Weller, Royal Canberra Golf Club (ACT)

2017: Michael Cole, Georgie Bass (VIC)

2018: Jack Lee, Bean Smuggler (VIC)

2019: Michael Cole, Georgie Bass (VIC)

2021: Andrew Ballard, Simmer Catering (VIC)

2022: Konstantin Putkin, The Boatyard (TAS)

2023: Tom Hitchcock, The Spirit House (QLD)

Sponsored by: