60 years of shaping the future: Nestlé Golden Chef’s Hat Award launches for 2025

Mar 21, 2025

60 years of shaping the future: Nestlé Golden Chef’s Hat Award launches for 2025

Do you know a young chef looking to accelerate their career? The 2025 Nestlé Golden Chef's Hat Award is now open for entries! As Golden Chef’s celebrates 60 years in Australia and 5 years in New Zealand, this competition offers more than just competitive cooking – it aims to help young chefs shape their futures and fast-track their careers.

Apprentices and junior chefs aged 16-24* are encouraged to enter now to:
✅Receive mentorship from experienced chefs with the Australian Culinary Federation and
NZChefs
✅Enhance their skills through evaluation against globally recognised standards
✅Compete for over $38k in prizes, including an incredible international culinary experience
✅Join a competition with a 60-year legacy and a community of over 8,000 chef alumni

How it Works

  1. Young chefs can simply enter online if they are apprentices or junior chefs aged between 16-24 years old on 31 December 2025 and meet the eligibility requirements*.
  2. They will compete in the regional cook-offs from June to July to secure their spots among the top 12 finalists from Australia and New Zealand.
  3. The finalists will then battle it out at the Grand Finals for the top prize at Fine Food Australia in Sydney in September.
  4. The Golden Chef of the Year will win a 14-day international culinary trip and work experience in Singapore and Thailand, valued at $12,000 AUD.

 

Chef and owner of Adelaide’s Arkhé restaurant and 2014 Nestlé Golden Chef of the Year finalist, Jake Kellie, said: “These Awards have been a key part of Australia’s culinary scene for 60 years which is an incredible feat. This is a competition that provides young chefs with a unique platform to showcase their talent and build lasting relationships within the industry, which is so important. The Nestlé Golden Chef’s Hat Award was a game-changer for me, offering invaluable experience and industry knowledge that has helped me in my career.” Past competitors have become industry leaders. Enter now or encourage a young chef to apply!

Enter Now

Entries close at 11:59 pm AEST on 16 May 2025.

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*Important information: Entry open to individuals who are AU or NZ residents working (current or recent) in the culinary industry or are a current culinary student and aged between 16-24 on 31 December 2025 (if <18 obtain parent/guardian permission). Registration opens 12:01am AEDT on 3 March 2025 and close at 11:59pm AEST on 16 May 2025. Select entrants will be invited to attend the Regional and Metro cook offs which will occur between June - July 2025. Qualification to the Regional and Metro cook offs is limited & we reserve the right to determine eligibility based on your response to why you want to enter the Golden Chef’s competition. Twelve entrants (one per region) will be awarded with Regional and Metro cook off Prizes and invited to participate in the Grand Final cook-offs which will occur in Sydney, between 6 – 11 September 2025 (date/location is subject to change). There are 6 prizes to be won during the Grand Final cook-offs. For full entry requirements, cook-off details, prize categories and inclusions see https://nes.tl/kotkgk5s Promoter is Nestlé Australia Ltd


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