This July, Adelaide is hosting the 60th year of the Nestlé Golden Chef’s Hat Award, bringing together South Australia’s most promising young chefs for an epic culinary showdown. The competition will see a group of young chefs aged between 16 and 24, battling it out at TAFE’s South Australia Regency Campus.
This year, the competition introduces the Best Signature Dish Award, celebrating the chef who best created their personal culinary style. South Australian contestants are competing for a share of a huge prize pool, with the overall competition offering $38,000. Across Australia and New Zealand, around 225 young chefs are expected to participate in the heats running between June and July.
Competitors will have two and a half hours to prepare and present a main course and a dessert, for which they must develop original recipes that are both technical and creative. These dishes are evaluated against globally recognised standards by a panel of judges.
The highest scorer from South Australia will progress to the Grand Final of the Nestlé Golden Chef’s Hat Award, which will be held at Sydney’s Fine Food Australia in September. The winner of this final stage will earn the title of 2025 Golden Chef of the Year.
The Nestlé Golden Chef’s Hat Award was established back in 1965, and has helped more than 8,000 chefs at the beginning of their careers. This competition focuses on developing skills, providing mentorship, and facilitating career advancement for young chefs.
Nestlé Professional’s Executive Chef and Commercial Development Chef Elke Travers shared, “True culinary innovation happens when every voice is heard, especially from our regional communities. Supporting young chefs from all corners of the country not only strengthens our industry but also ensures a richer, more diverse future for the Australian hospitality industry.
“For six decades, we have strived to provide an inclusive platform as a way to shine a light on emerging culinary talent across Australia and New Zealand and ensure the next generation of chefs are set up for future success.
“Returning to South Australia comes with great excitement due to the famed local culinary scene and the exceptional talent and creativity we’ve seen here at previous cook-offs.”
The Nestlé Golden Chef’s Hat Award has played a part in shaping the culinary careers of many leading figures in the industry. Alumni include Jake Kellie, co-owner and Head Chef of arkhé in Norwood and a 2014 national finalist.
“Competing in the Nestlé Golden Chef’s Hat Award was an important early experience in my career. It helped build my confidence, encouraged me to push my boundaries, and connected me with mentors who had a real impact on my journey. Opportunities like this, especially for young chefs in South Australia, can spark careers and open doors that last a lifetime,” shared Jake.
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