Fonterra has selected 34 apprentice chefs to participate in the 18th annual Fonterra ‘Proud to be a Chef’ program in February 2017.
Finalists from around the Australia will be flown to Melbourne to participate in the four day mentoring program, which will include field tours, up skilling workshops, dining at some of Melbourne’s most prominent restaurants and educational mentoring classes with industry leaders such as head chef Buddha Lo of Matteo’s restaurant.
“I am really excited to meet and work with this year’s selection of incredible finalists, and help each apprentice discover their potential through a program that helped kick start my own career,” said Lo, this year’s masterchef and 2010 ‘Proud to be a Chef’ finalist.
Applicants were evaluated based on their demonstrated culinary passion, aspirations, goals and commitment to becoming a chef, along with a review of an original recipe submission.
At the end of the program, one apprentice will be crowned the 2017 Fonterra ‘Proud to be a Chef’ winner, receiving an international culinary scholarship tailored to their personal interests and goals as a professional chef.
“We are committed to investing in this industry and this program is designed to help nurture the next generation of talented, passionate and hard-working Australian apprentice chefs,” said Fonterra’s director of foodservice Jeff Dhu.
The finalists selected for the 2017 Fonterra Proud to be a Chef program are:
- Tara Bennett – Sensations en Ardross, WA
- Harrison Caruana – RACV City Club, VIC
- Jhye Cockram – Lake House Daylesford, VIC
- Kade Cohen – Farmhouse Kings Cross, NSW
- Haiden Cox – Maryborough RSL, QLD
- Kenya Cramer – Jupiters Casino & Hotel, QLD
- Melanie Cranmer – Loxton Community Hotel Motel, SA
- Beth Dobbins – Oaklands Golf Club, NSW
- Stephen Fawcett – Matteo’s, VIC
- Giles Gabutina – Tetsuya's Restaurant, NSW
- Jennifer Hardke Wilson – Novotel Surfers Paradise, QLD
- Reece Hiki – Forbes Services Memorial Club, NSW
- Anthony Hotker – Ascot Quays Hotel, WA
- Laura Hughes – Rydges Campbelltown, NSW
- Natthawut Khunsombat – Adelaide Oval, SA
- Lara Kirby – Sandal ford Estate Winery, WA
- Kokwei Lee – Crown Perth, WA
- Samantha Levett – The Star Casino, NSW
- Shaynesha Page – The Vue Grand Hotel and Restaurant, VIC
- Katie Sayer – Cherubs 3, NSW
- Greg Schimleck – Crown Melbourne, VIC
- Jason Scott – Co-op Dining East Perth, WA
- Alana Shannon – Appellation, SA
- Dylan Smith – Rickys River Bar and Restaurant, QLD
- Brianne Stanley – Boardwalk Bendigo, VIC
- Alec Stemmler – Shangri –la Cairns, FNQ
- Ha Chul Sung – Moomoo Wine Bar & Grill, QLD
- Kimberly Tang – Crown Melbourne, VIC
- Joseph Taylor – Treasury Brisbane, QLD
- Naomi Townsend – Gateway Hotel, TAS
- Marcus Ulmer – Glass Brasserie, NSW
- Ben Von Stebut – Ormeggio at the Spit, NSW
- Haley Wilkinson – Hilton Adelaide, SA
- William Yarley – Warragul Country Club, VIC
Fonterra Proud to be a Chef alumni include George Calombaris, Scott Pickett and Joe Grbac.