NZ Chef of the Year 2025

NZ Chef of the Year 2025

MIT, Gate 14, NT Building, 59 Alexander Crescent, Otara

9th July 2025

Details to be confirmed, however this is how the 2024 event played out

Event 1 Chef of the Year – Three course meal, Event 2 Chef of the Year – Mystery box

NZ Chef of the Year Event 1 – NZ Chef of the Year 2024

Sponsors: Moffat NZ, Southern Hospitality Product sponsors: Nestlé Professional, Queen Professional and Gilmours.

This is a duathlon style event. Competing in Event 1 and 2 is a compulsory requirement to be eligible to be named NZ Chef of the Year. The title will be awarded to the person with the highest aggregate score from both events. Each event is judged individually and has class winners.

Entry to each individual class will be prioritised for competitors in the Chef of the Year Event.

Note: To be eligible to be awarded the Chef of the Year title, competitors must achieve a minimum standard of silver medal.

Event 1 – Three course meal

Three course menu for four (4) covers prepared and served within 2hr 15min under Worldchefs’ competition guidelines. The menu should be suitable for serving in an upmarket restaurant.

1^st Course (to be presented at 45 minutes into the competition)

Ovo lacto vegetarian dish showcasing fresh vegetables and at least one (1) Nestlé Professional product (from the accompanying list).

2^nd Course (to be presented between 1hr 45mn and 2hr 00min into the competition)

Main Course must feature lamb leg cooked with at least two cooking methods and be complemented by at least one (1) Nestlé Professional product and three (3) vegetables, appropriate starch and sauce.

3^rd Course (to be presented before the 2hr 15min mark of the competition)

Dessert must feature Fruit/Fruit product and one (1) Nestlé product and one [1] Queen product.

Note: ALL elements for Course 1 can be brought in pre-prepared to allow competitors to showcase some of the more time-consuming techniques such as dehydrating, fermenting, pickling etc. However, the dish MUST be assembled during the competition and all pre-prepared items MUST be the work of the individual competitor. ALL elements for Course 2 and Course 3 MUST be fully prepared in the competition arena during the stipulated timeframe.

Mystery Box Event 2 – NZ Chef of Year 2024

Sponsors: Moffat NZ, Southern Hospitality Product sponsors: Announced at the event

Compulsory event for NZ Chef of Year

Mystery Box main course for four (4) covers served within one (1) hour. The box will contain some compulsory ingredients that must be showcased in the final dish. It should be a balanced main course featuring protein, appropriate starch, vegetables and sauce.

Competitors MUST ONLY use the products provided in the mystery box. Prior to the cooking time, competitors will be given 15 minutes to view the mystery box, organise their ingredients and draft their menu.

Chefs may enter this event as a standalone event however, priority will be given to chefs who are competing for the Chef of the Year title and compete in Event 1.

General Rules

• Competitors must be a member of NZ Chefs.
• Competitors must report to the competition venue 1 hour before the competition start time.
• Your entry must be completed within the stipulated completion times. Competitors violating this rule will be penalised as per Worldchefs’ competition rules.

Competitors must bring, small kitchen equipment and plate wares, and provide the following:

• One (1) portion of each course for display and three (3) portions for judge tasting.
• One (1) set of recipes needed in the kitchen.
• Two (2) x menu cards to be displayed on presentation table and available for the judges.

The winner of the Mystery Box will receive a gift box.

The winner of the Chef of the Year title will receive:

• A Moffat E23D3 oven and SK23 stand. The oven will be filled with Sponsors’ products.
• A Gilmours $400 voucher
• A Southern Hospitality $500 voucher

2^nd placed contestant will receive a:

• A Gilmours $400 voucher
• A Southern Hospitality $100 voucher

3^rd and 4^th placed contestants will receive a:

• A Southern Hospitality $100 voucher

Venue MIT, Gate 14, NT Building, 59 Alexander Crescent, Otara

Event 1

12 noon Registration and entry to Kitchen

12.15 pm set up work stations.

12.45 pm NZ Chef of Year starts.

3 pm Competition ends.

Clean up, helpers may enter the Kitchen to assist.

Event 2

3.30 pm Mystery box competitors given Mystery Box ingredients.

3.45 pm competition starts.

4.45 pm competition ends.

Clean up.

Prize giving to follow.

Suggestion for arrival.

• Drop off equipment and then park. Pay parking is available onsite, free parking is available on the road outside.
• Confirmed competitors will receive information about complimentary legs of lamb.

Each competitor will have:

• 1 x 4 burner Gas oven
• Own sink with running hot and cold water
• 1 x stainless steel bench 1800 (L) x 700 (W) x 900 (H)
• Allocated shelves in Chiller
• 2 Electricity sockets

Shared equipment:

• Salamander
• Deep freeze
• Deep fryer
• Blast chiller
• Ice cream machine

More Info about Sponsor’s products:

Nestlé Professional: https://www.nestleprofessional.co.nz/brands

Maggi Vegetable Booster, Buitoni Tomato Coulis

Nescafe Coffee, Nestlé Hot Chocolate

Nestle Docello Royal Dark Couverture Chocolate

Queen: https://queenprofessional.com.au/nz/

Organic Vanilla Bean Paste, Maple Syrup

Gilmours: https://www.gilmours.co.nz

To enter, download the entry form here. Entries closed 1 July, 2024.

Download Recipe and Dish description cards here.