FINALISTS ANNOUNCED FOR PROUD TO BE A CHEF 2021
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Following extensive evaluation by an expert panel of judges, Anchor™ Food Professionals is pleased to announce the 32 finalists for next year’s Proud to Be a Chef program.
Proud to Be a Chef is Australia’s leading foodservice mentoring program, giving culinary apprentices from all over the nation the chance to be part of a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Chosen for their demonstrated culinary passion, aspirations, goals and longterm commitment to the foodservice sector, the finalists are set to undertake an all-expenses paid experiential journey of masterclasses, skills workshops, dining at prominent restaurants and invaluable networking opportunities with peers, industry leaders and program mentors, to be held across four days in Melbourne next February.
“With the foodservice sector severely impacted by the challenges of this year, we are excited to have been able to continue to work towards delivering Proud to Be a Chef for 2021,” said Anchor™ Food Professionals Channel Marketing Manager Kym Gill. “We felt it was very important to keep the program going so as to give our applicants some certainty and a goal to focus on which would allow them to look to the future with positivity. Our team has been working diligently behind the scenes to make this a reality.”
Across the four days of Proud to Be a Chef 2021, the finalists will participate in hands-on activities including visits to dairy farms and processing plants; masterclasses conducted by Executive Chef/Restaurateur and Anchor™ Food Professionals resident mentor Mark Normoyle, Executive Pastry Chef Josh Cochrane from RACV City Club Melbourne, and award-winning chef Jo Barrett; [MM1] and workshops conducted by industry experts, covering everything from the importance of creating a personal brand on social media to building resilience and taking care of one’s mental health in today’s challenging commercial environment. Mark Normoyle will be working with his fellow mentors to host a showcase dinner for the finalists at his Luna Food & Wine Bar which looks out across Port Phillip Bay at St Kilda, an ideal spot to highlight all that Melbourne has to offer as Australia’s food capital.
The program culminates in one standout finalist being awarded a Culinary Scholarship valued at $7,500 tailored to their personal interests and professional goals, while two other standout finalists will receive a three day internship with one of the mentors.
As a key member of the judging panel, Mark Normoyle says: ““The number and quality of entries we received this year has been outstanding, especially considering the pressures that so many of our applicants have been under. What was particularly impressive for me was the innovative ways in which our entrants were able to address all the criteria points in their creation of high quality recipes, from the inventive use of Anchor™ products to the focus on seasonal produce. Every recipe I assessed delivered on those key points and the effort that had been put in was obvious.
“We also always encourage our applicants to seek the support of their employer and head chef and it was very clear from the calibre of this year’s entries that the industry really got behind the program. Our applicants obviously put a great deal of work into their entries and you can’t do that without the support of your chef and your workplace.
“I’m really looking forward to welcoming our finalists to Proud to Be a Chef in February – I always learn from the experience, just as they do, so I can’t wait to see what the takeaway will be!”
Full listing of the 32 finalists follows:
Alexander Dunn, SA
Caelan Hunter, QLD
Danielle Bingham, NSW
Emma Hartley, QLD
Gabrielle Inwood, QLD
Jamie Neff, VIC
Karmin Poulish, SA
Lillian Korsten, VIC
Melissa Poon, VIC
Naiful Haque, NSW
Sean Mears, VIC
Ariane Guimbeau, WA
Clive Glauert, WA
Dominique Barone, WA
Eryn George, VIC
Gere Taylor, VIC
Jessica Heathcote, VIC
Kevin Clarke, TAS
Marley Van Den Boom, NSW
Mitchell Collins, QLD
Nicholas Pinaroc, NSW
Tiani Saunter, QLD
Brittany Achilles, QLD
Daniel Costello, VIC
Dylan Raynes, VIC
Ethan Annesley, NSW
Inuri Wettasinghe, NSW
Jessica Roe, WA
Laura Wallace, NT
Martti Siitonen, VIC
Mollie Smith, NSW
Rosie Hanson, WA
