The annual Electrolux Appetite for Excellence program has wrapped up for another year, with the top gongs presented at an awards night at Luke Mangan’s Mojo in Sydney’s Waterloo on 8 August.
The mentorship program is broken into three categories: Young Chef, Young Waiter and Young Restaurateur, with the judging process involving a series of cook-offs and interviews, as well as service and product knowledge tests.
Now in its 11th year, Electrolux Appetite for Excellence boasts a list of well-respected industry veterans as judges, including Mark Best, Peter Gilmore, Luke Mangan, Christine Manfield, Nick Hildebrandt and Peter Sullivan, amongst others.
This year, the awards were presented by David Pynt, fellow Appetite for Excellence judge and owner of Burnt Ends in Singapore, which was recently ranked 70th in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list.
The Young Waiter of the Year award was presented to Andrew Day from Akiba in Canberra, while the Young Chef title went to Aaron Ward from Sydney’s Sixpenny. Cameron Cansdell from bombini in Avoca took home the Young Restaurateur of the Year award.
Andrew Day, Cameron Cansdell and Aaron Ward.
To see the full list of finalists, click here.
This year, the prizes include:
- ?Young Chef of the Year: Experience the Electrolux Innovation Centre in Italy courtesy of Electrolux; participate in a four day culinary experience in Italy in 2017 courtesy of Sanpellegrino; return economy international flights to Italy courtesy of Virgin Australia, $3,000 spending money and two weeks’ work experience at a Michelin star restaurant.
- ?Young Waiter of the Year: Attend the World Gourmet Summit 2017 in Singapore. Prize includes return economy international flights courtesy of Virgin Australia and $3,000 spending money; plus a two day visit to a renowned Australian winery with the winemaker, including flights and accommodation.
- ?Young Restaurateur of the Year: Network with industry greats at Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants OR The World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards in 2017, courtesy of Sanpellegrino. Prize includes return economy international flights courtesy of Virgin Australia and $8,000 to invest in their business.
