The 2022 Nestlé Golden Chef’s Hat Award is now open and looking for chefs aged 16-25 to show off their culinary skills.

Online entries are open until 6 May, with finalists going on to cook off against their peers in regional heats.

15 heats will be held across Australia and New Zealand, with 12 chefs selected to represent their regions during a final cook-off at Fine Food Australia in Melbourne in September.

“I love the thrill of this competition and it’s what you make of every opportunity that counts,” says Kimberly Tang, the 2021 winner of the award.

The winner of Golden Chef will take home a $10,000 cash prize, with two additional cash prizes of $2,500 given to the winners of the best savoury dish and the best dessert.

Each of the 12 regional finalists will receive kitchen equipment valued at $299, with two $1,000 prizes awarded to the chefs behind the most creative and most sustainable dishes in the competition.

Register for the competition here.