Regional/Metropolitan Chef of the Year

JUDGING (100% PRACTICAL INTERVIEW)

*ELIGIBLE FOR ENTRY INTO THE AHA NATIONAL AWARDS

GENERAL CRITERIA

• Employee must meet the following criteria:
• Employed for no less than six months prior to nomination
• Employee must be nominated by their employer

PRACTICAL INTERVIEW CRITERIA

The nominee will be required to attend a practical interview for two hours at a scheduled time at the nominee’s workplace between June-August 2025. Each nominee will be required to cook and present two courses for the judges. One course will be selected by the judge from the hotel’s menu and one course of the nominee’s choice.

The judges will consider the following evidence in the interview:

• Introduction and entrance
• Personal presentation, attire, and grooming
• Elaborate on customer service skills
• Personality (confident, outgoing, focused and disciplined when answering questions)
• Attitude towards accommodating guests’ dietary requirements and special requests
• Explanation of outstanding achievement (work and community related)
• Plate presentation, temperature, taste, quality, and attention to detail
• Explanation of the individual’s commitment to training and professional skills
• Management of employees - ability to manage a team ensuring consistency
• Evidence of the chef displaying excellence in their role delivery of high-quality offerings
• Quality and innovation of menu, creativity, menu construction
• Evaluation of the two dishes prepared for judges (presentation)
• Evidence of locally sourced products, maintaining sustainability accuracy, appearance, taste, variety, and quality)
• Examples of how the chef has had a positive impact on the success of the business

2024 WINNER (Regional) – Shane Clark - Holbrook Hotel

2024 JOINT WINNERS (Metropolitan) –
Scott Greves - Humphrey’s Hotel
Scott Mills - Sinclair’s, The Log Cabin