Emily MorganThe young chef behind the recently opened and much-praised Bianca Pasta restaurant in Ellerslie impressed judges with his menu and secured a trip to Melbourne to represent the North Island in Australia’s longest-running culinary competition for young chefs.
Emily was one of 15 young chefs from across the North Island who competed in the North Island regional final. Revitalizing universities At the 2024 Nestle Golden Chef’s Hat Awards.
The menu she created especially for the cooking contest included chicken rolls with Swiss chard and mushrooms, thyme gnocchi and Maggi’s instant mashed potato mix with carrot puree for the main course, and pear tarte tatin shortbread with buondi coffee and Maggi’s Royal Couverture chocolate crème for dessert.
Lianna Dugmore She won the Most Innovative Use of Coffee award for her dessert of Buondi Steady State Bean and Nestlé Royal Chocolate Couverture Bavarian cream with Nestlé sweetened condensed milk sauce, lemon-flavored poached pear and a topping of macadamia biscuit and sugar, and the prize was a KOI knife worth $295.
Young chefs who were deemed the “best in class” in their chosen field took part in the competition, competing against each other in a series of cooking challenges to determine New Zealand’s best chef.
All chefs, aged between 16 and 24, entered the competition for the chance to kickstart their culinary careers and gave it their all to win the coveted top prize.
Each competing chef created a two-course menu consisting of a main dish and dessert, both of which were judged by a panel of leading industry judges according to globally recognised culinary standards.
Nestlé Professional Commercial Advisory Chef Karl Seidel says cooking in a competitive environment and competing against other top chefs is a valuable learning experience. Participating chefs also receive insight and feedback on their culinary skills from experienced judges certified to global standards.
Last year, Joshue Baumann and Lily Bowles won their respective regional qualifiers in New Zealand and advanced to the Grand Final at Fine Food Australia in Sydney.
Reflecting on their experience, Josje and Lily say the rewards of the competition have been invaluable, and that any aspiring chef can excel at the event, regardless of their experience level.
Emily, along with the winner of the South Island final, will compete in the kitchen against other top chefs from across Australia at the Fine Food Australia open arena in Melbourne this September.
