The regional finalists of the Nestle Golden Chef’s Hat award have been announced ahead of the finals at this year’s Fine Food event in September.
With the most teams from the most regions entering the 2016 awards, six of 10 finalist teams are all-women duos – the biggest female chef team representation in the history of the competition for young chefs. Sixty percent of the teams achieved gold medals to secure finalist places.
The 2016 line-up will also see some familiar faces back to compete for the national title, including Northern Territory sisters Ryleigh Hunt and Jenita Hunt, NSW’s chef Adelene Stahnke and Western Australia chef Cherise Davids.
Davids said, "This is my sixth time competing in the Nestl Golden Chef’s Hat award and it’s hands down my favourite culinary competition, you learn so much from the chef mentors and it’s a great opportunity to connect with other chefs at your level.”
This year’s national winning team will be awarded a culinary trip to North America.
The 2016 Nestl Golden Chef’s Hat award national finalists:
- NSW regional: Billy Fox, The Sage Hotel Wollongong and Adriana Manfredi, The Sage Hotel Wollongong
- QLD metro: George Jefferies, Twin Towns Services Club and Teri Jorgensen, Tweed Heads Bowls Club
- QLD regional: Cloe Buckley, Pullman Cairns International and Ashleigh Otto, Pullman Cairns International
- NSW metro: Adelene Stahnke, Bang Street Food and Catalina Rodriguez, Papi Chulo restaurant
- South Australia: Abbey Wendland, Adelaide Oval and Mahlet Girma, Adelaide Oval
- Victoria: Bridget Botcher, Koko's Crown Melbourne and Kimberly Tang, No. 8 Crown Melbourne
- Australian Capital Territory: Bradley Howden, Canberra Southern Cross Club and Nathan Barker, Canberra Southern Cross Club
- Western Australia: Cherise Davids, Royal On The Waterfront and Angela Fairfield, Modo Mio, Crown Perth
- Northern Territory: Ryleigh Hunt, Berry Springs Tavern and Jenita Hunt, Berry Springs Tavern
- Tasmania: Hugh Walters, Wrest Point Casino and Emily Hanson, Wrest Point Casino
Team NSW Metro, Adelene Stahnke and Catalina Rodriguez.
Team Northern Territory (centre) Ryleigh Hunt and Jenita Hunt
