National Finalists announced for annual Electrolux Appetite for Excellence Awards

Some of Australia’s most promising young chefs and waiters revealed after a series of challenges judged by hospitality heavyweights 

The National Finalists for the Young Chef and Young Waiter categories in the annual Appetite for Excellence Awards have been revealed, shining a spotlight on the young guns to watch in the industry. 

Young Waiter and Young Chef national finalists have been selected by a judging panel of industry leaders including Mark Best, Peter Gilmore, Luke Mangan, Christine Manfield, Nick Hildebrandt, Lisa van Haandel, Peter Sullivan and Dave Pynt. Young chefs cooked a two course meal critiqued by judges in a series Cook-Offs and young waiters demonstrated their service skills and knowledge in a pop-up restaurant at the Wait-Off. 

The national finalists, representative of some of the best young waiters and chefs that Australia has to offer, include Andrew Day from Akiba in the ACT, George Papaioannou from Luxemburg in VIC (Young Waiter National Finalists), Zackary Furst from IDES in VIC, Troy Crisante from Bennelong and Aaron Ward from sixpenny in NSW (Young Chef National Finalists). 

Marque’s Mark Best, and Young Chef Electrolux Appetite for Excellence judge commented: 

“It’s exciting to see the calibre of entrants in the awards strengthen each year – this year we’ve had some of our best young chefs, waiters and restaurateurs in the awards yet. 

“We’re lucky to have a large and diverse pool of young hospitality talent in Australia, and it’s important to help foster the growth of industry up-and-comers so that Australia’s hospitality sector can continue to shine.” 

All Electrolux Appetite for Excellence National Finalists will take part in an educational Produce Tour in NSW in July, to meet farmers, harvesters and producers in a key food region. The National winners for the Young Chef, Restaurateur and Waiter categories will be crowned at the Appetite for Excellence Awards Ceremony in Sydney on August 8. 

To view the full list of Young Chef National Finalists, Young Waiter National Finalists and Young Restaurateur National Finalists for Electrolux Appetite for Excellence 2016, please see below: 

2016 electrolux australian young restaurateur national finalists

2016 electrolux australian young waiter state finalists

2016 electrolux australian young chef finalists

Electrolux Appetite for Excellence presents rising hospitality professionals with unique experiences, including educational master classes, produce tours, the chance to network with industry giants and national and international travel. 

Source:  Electrolux Apetite for Excellence, 7^th July 2016