Competition is heating up for the Nestlé Golden Chefs Hat Award, as the regional cook-offs get underway across the country.
Six teams have already been chosen to compete for the title at Fine Food Australia this September, with just three more heats to go.
Finalists to date include: Eve Sheraton and Sammuel Lee (QLD metro), Jayden Osborne and Kelvin Anderson (QLD regional), Billy Wilkes and Matthew Wills (NSW metro), Liam Gray and George Mirosevich (NSW regional), Jason Nicholas and Lara Kirby (WA) and Sarah Jones and Ben Rogers (SA).
New to the competition, Matthew Wills says the heats were an exciting experience.
“We worked really well as a team cooking but the nerves set in waiting for the result,” he says. “I’m feeling awesome now and can’t believe we are in the finals. We are going to give it everything.”
Mark Clayton, executive chef at Nestlé Professional, says the competition gives young chef the chance to connect with their peers, learn new skills and advance their culinary careers.
“A successful cook-off is teams that go out there and put 100 per cent into what they’re doing. It’s not always about winning,” he says.
“The Nestlé Golden Chef’s Hat Award exists to support the professional development of young chefs and being judged on your culinary skills is critical to this. For me, it’s about pushing yourself to become a better chef and committing to your culinary journey.”
The Nestlé Golden Chefs Hat Award national finals will take place in Melbourne on 10 and 11 September, before the winning team is announced at an awards night on 12 September.
