NZ Pastry Chef of the Year 2025

NZ Pastry Chef of the Year 2025

AUT, School of Hospitality & Tourism, Kitchen K2 (L3), cnr Mayoral Drive and Wellesley Street East, Auckland

8th August 2025 TBC at 9:00am


Competitors are required to prepare and serve 2 different products within a three-hour time limit and must follow Worldchefs competition and Hygiene guidelines.

8:00am Register at Reception

8:30am Pastry Kitchen - set up

9:00am Pastry Competition starts

12:00pm Competition ends

1^st product (to be presented at 2-hour into the competition)

Four portions of the same identical dessert suitable for an upmarket restaurant and representing a consistent theme to match the cake/gateau. The dessert must feature Nestlé Docello Royal dark chocolate couverture and Queen Vanilla Bean Paste

2^nd product (to be presented on the 3-hour mark of the competition)

One cake/gateau of your choice featuring Nestlé Docello Royal dark chocolate couverture. It must weigh between 800-900g (excluding garnish). 1/3 of weight must be cake product.

The whole gateau must first be presented to the Judging panel. After weighing and inspection, 4 plated portions must be served within the 3-hour time frame. The remainder of the cake/gateau will be set on the display table.

General Rules

• Competitors must report to the competition venue 1 hour before the competition start time.
• Competitors must bring their own ingredients and any equipment requirements not listed below.
• The competitor with the highest points score will be named the class winner. However, to be awarded the title of NZ Pastry Chef of the Year 2024 a minimum standard of a Silver Medal must be attained.
• The entry fee for the competition is $45. All competitors must be a member of NZ Chefs.

The following must be provided:

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

Competitors’ dishes must not be completed more than 10 minutes before the stipulated service time. Failure to present any course on time, will result in missing your tasting slot. If time permits, it will be tasted after all other competitors have served and will be judged accordingly.

One point will be deducted on every 1 minute for being late for your service time.

Plated Dessert Regulations:

The desserts must show different elements of skills involved in the pastry kitchen, be seasonal, and suitable for an upmarket restaurant and represent a consistent theme to match the cake/gateau.

The dessert must contain at least 3 main components:

• One (1) of these components must be served chilled.
• One (1) must be frozen.
• One (1) of the components must be served warm or hot.

Kitchen facilities will be confirmed.

Competitors will be provided with the following equipment for use in the kitchen. All other equipment should be provided by the competitors. Anything that does not fit into a knife box will need to be approved for use by the host venue and chief judge.

• 1x s/s bench 300cm x 60cm approx
• 1x MOFFAT 6 burner gas stove top with gas oven (with fan)
• 2x power points
• Waste containers, cleaning products
• 1x sink - with hot and cold running water

Shared use

• 10 tray steamer
• Deep fryer
• Pasta roller
• Fridge space
• Blast chiller + freezer space
• A range of white plates (however, competitors may bring their own)

More about Sponsors’ products:

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

• Nescafe Coffee, Nestlé Hot Chocolate, Nestlé Docello Royal dark chocolate couverture

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

• Organic Vanilla Bean Paste, Maple Syrup

Medal and Award Ceremony - 2025 TBC

The winner of the NZ Pastry Chef of the Year 2024 received:
- a Moffat E23 D3 oven and SK23 stand. The oven will be filled with Sponsors’ Products
- a Southern Hospitality $500 voucher

The 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th place contestants each received a Southern Hospitality $100 voucher

The 2024Award Ceremony took place from 1pm in Four Seasons Dining Room (L2)

Entries close on 30th July 2025 Download the Entry form to come

For more information on these events visit https://www.nzchefs.org.nz/Competitions.html

NZ Chefs contact for the event: John Kelleher – email john.kelleher@aut.ac.nz

Download Recipe and Dish description cards here.