Nestlé GOLDEN CHEF’S HAT AWARD is gearing up for the 2019 national finals, having sourced the best and brightest young chefs from across the country. 

Australia’s longest running culinary competition for young chefs has seen a host of new chef talent step up this year to put themselves to the test in culinary institutes around Australia. And, proving themselves to be rising stars of the cooking arena, six of ten teams have achieved gold medals in the regional heats. 

Ten teams of two are now going forward to compete in the national final next month, where they will do kitchen battle against the country’s top talent in purpose built commercial kitchens at Fine Food Australia.  

Third-year apprentice chefs Sarah Jones, 19, from the National Wine Library and Adrien Holds, 22, from the Adelaide Oval impressed judges with their menu to be awarded gold. At just 19 years old, young chef Sarah Jones is already making her mark as a rising star to watch, having made it to the finals of the 2018 Nestlé GOLDEN CHEF’S HAT AWARD and on the back of that representing Australia in the Trophée Mille (Reims, France) where she achieved honours and won Best Savoury Dish.

“I think it definitely helped having competed before, it gave me more confidence to back myself for sure, but there were still a few nerves at the start. I think that Adrien and I really worked well as a team today, I’m really happy with what we put on the plate. I’m looking forward to the next challenge in Sydney,” Jones says.  

Jones and Holds created a two-course menu of pan roasted lamb rump with ginger sweet potato, braised lamb filled pasta, pickled kohlrabi, cavolo nero oil and pan jus for their main and a lemon and lime tart with coconut mousse, orange and ginger crumb for their dessert course. 

Executive Chef and Nestlé Professional head judge Mark Clayton said the Nestlé GOLDEN CHEF’S HAT AWARD exists to support the professional development of young chefs. “This award is about pushing yourself to be a better chef. It offers young talent the opportunity to really accelerate their culinary journey”.

The 2019 national winning team will be awarded a $15,000 culinary trip of a lifetime to North America.

The Nestlé GOLDEN CHEF’S HAT AWARD has been running for 54 years and offers the next generation of young chef talent a platform to create new opportunities, learn valuable skills and connect with industry peers in the culinary industry. 

Follow the action at: https://www.facebook.com/goldenchefs

2019 National Finalist Teams at: http://bit.ly/2KuV84A

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