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.
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:
