Heat on as chefs chase Golden Plate

FOUR hometown culinary talents will put their skills to the test next week in a sizzling showdown for the title of regional Victoria’s best chef.

Sean Street from the Q Train, Michael Jaques from TARRA, Cal Crigan from Jack Rabbit and reigning title holder Eli Grubb, now of The Retreat and Federal Mills newcomer Woolstore, will go head-to-head against four other regional Victorian chefs on October 7 at the Comcater Showrooms in Port Melbourne.

The competition will centre around a two-course meal. The first course must be created from a mystery box of ingredients, while the second course will offer an opportunity for each chef to present a showstopping dish from their own restaurant.

Each dish will be judged on its presentation, originality, complexity, and balance of flavours and, in the mystery box competition, how many of the ingredients they’ve been able to use, with points to be deduced for any ingredients that don’t make it into the dish.

The competition forms part of this year’s Golden Plate Awards program, which has celebrated excellence in regional Victoria’s hospitality industry for more than two decades.

Event organiser Pamela Jewson said the Best Chef cook off is one of the highlights of the Golden Plate Awards year.

She described it as a demonstration of technical skill, creativity, flavour balance and the ability to perform under pressure.

“The awards were set up to recognise outstanding achievements across restaurants, hotels, cafes, wineries, bars and tourism dining experiences,” Ms Jewson said of the Golden Plate Awards program.

“They have become the benchmark of quality and creativity that define regional Victoria’s vibrant food culture.”

The eight finalists were selected for their high scores in the first round of the competition, which saw 65 venues across regional Victoria participate.

“Over the years, the Golden Plate Awards have launched the careers of many leading chefs and continues the legacy by holding an Apprentice of the Year competition, on Wednesday, 8th October, offering recognition and inspiration to the next generation of culinary leaders,” Ms Jewson added.

This year’s best chef and apprentice of the year will be crowned in December, alongside the other category winners in the 2025 Golden Plate Awards. The region’s best chef will also take home $1,000 in prize money.