Aaron Ward : Young Chef of the Year

It’s been massive news for Aaron Ward, sous chef (second in charge) at Sydney’s high class Sixpenny restaurant, in Stanmore.

Ward has just been named Electrolux Appetite for Excellence Young Chef of the Year at a ceremony in Sydney.

The Appetite program is regarded as one of Australia’s most respected and acclaimed awards system to identify the country’s greatest new restaurant talents.

It’s been a remarkable journey for the 27 year old who started out as a teenager peeling potatoes in the kitchen of the Manning River Hotel, Taree, on the northern New South Wales coast.

And it’s quite an honour coming from high-profile judges including Singapore-based expat David Pynt, of the hit restaurant Burnt Ends.

They put everyone through a long and rigorous process but in the end, they were clearly impressed with what Ward had to offer.

The awards program also saw Canberra law degree dropout Andrew Day, who works at the Japan-inspired Akiba, in Civic, being named waiter of the year

Day knows exactly where he’s heading and what he wants: his big three ambitions are owning a stake in three different food and wine ventures, finishing law and doing a business management degree -  all at the same time, as you do.

Avoca Beach (NSW) chef and restaurant owner Cameron Cansdell who launched his own place, Bombini, last year after many years in Italian style restaurants including De Bortoli in Victoria’s Yarra Valley, picked up the Young Restaurateur of the Year award.

Young Waiter, Young Restaurateur & Young Chef Winners 2017

Winners will get prizes including overseas travel, mentoring with internationally acclaimed luminaries and work experience abroad.

The Appetite Awards are the brainchild of Sydney restaurateur Luke Mangan. He set it up in 2005 with the idea of stimulating and rewarding young talent in the restaurant industry.

“It’s evolved and grown into a community of really exceptional talent,” Mangan told The Australian. “Seeing how the alumni has developed over the years, in their careers and skills, is inspiring, not only for me and all the judges but also for those just starting out in the industry or thinking about it as a career.”

The Electrolux Australian Young Chef, Young Waiter and Young Restaurateur of the Year have been unveiled at an intimate celebration held at MOJO by Luke Mangan last night. 

Australia’s rising stars of the hospitality industry were unearthed from across the country, along with the Electrolux People’s Choice winners for Young Waiter and Young Chef. The 2016 winners are as follows: 

by Leon Gettler, August 9^th 2016