ENTRIES FOR GOLDEN CHEF'S 2025 HAVE NOW CLOSED
If you have completed your registration and meet the eligibility requirements*, we’ll send you all the details about your Regional Cook-Off location and everything you need to know to get started by Monday 26 May. Find out more about the 2025 competition here.
Who Can Enter
Apprentice and junior chefs, who are:
- Australian or New Zealand residents or a holder of a valid visa during the competition period (16th May — 11th September 2025)
- Aged from 16 and under 25 years on 31st December 2025
- A culinary student or currently employed (or recently employed within past 12 months) in a culinary profession (e.g. chef, cook, apprentice) and have the consent of their employer prior to entering.
Key Dates
10th March: Online Entry Opens
16th May: Online Entry Closes
June-July: Round 2 Regional and Metro Cook-offs
August: Regional & Metro Cook-off winners published on goldenchefs.com.au
8th – 9th September: Round 3 Grand Final Cook-offs
10th September: Industry Awards Night
How to Enter
Complete and submit the registration form. You’ll then be directed to a page that will confirm your successful registration and receive a confirmation email.
YOU HAVE UNTIL 16th MAY (11.59pm AEST) TO COMPLETE YOUR REGISTRATION FORM.
Eligible entrants will then get to cook-off against other chefs at the regional heats (between June – July). You will be notified by 26th May of your assigned regional or metro cook-off.
The top 12 winning chefs from Round 2 across Australia and New Zealand will then go on to compete in Round 3: The Grand Final Cook-off, which will be held in the ACF Culinary Challenge Arena at Fine Food Australia in Sydney, NSW between 8th & 9th September 2025.
The finalists will be judged by a panel of Australian Culinary Federation & NZChefs accredited judges
The Nestlé Golden Chef of the Year & other category winners will be announced at an Industry Awards night on 10th September 2025.
Finalists need to be available from 6th – 11th September, 2025 inclusive. Reasonable travel costs including accommodation will be provided. Note: Date/location is subject to change.
At the grand finals, one chef will take out the Nestlé Golden Chef of the Year title and win an exclusive 14-day international culinary trip and work experience to Singapore and Thailand, valued at $12,000AUD!