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Aonsasiphat Chursuwannachaia (Rose) will compete against the best young chefs from Australia and New Zealand in the Nestl\u00e9 Golden Chef\u2019s Hat Awards. Photo: Supplied.<\/p>\n
When Aonsasiphat Chursuwannachaia, known to her friends as Rose, isn\u2019t in the kitchen at Rebel Rebel, Canberra\u2019s lauded and hatted contemporary restaurant on Marcus Clarke Street, she\u2019s busy thinking up creative dishes that will one day take her around the world.<\/p>\n
Rose is one step closer to that dream, having earned the highest score and first place in the ACT region in the Nestle Golden Chef\u2019s Hat awards for the second year running.<\/p>\n
The ACT division of the competition, held at the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) Woden Campus on 22 June, is part of a nationwide and cross-Tasman competition that is aimed at advancing the careers of young chefs.<\/p>\n
Now in its seventh decade, it\u2019s one of the longest-running culinary competitions in the country and as with most years, the competition was fierce.<\/p>\n
Nestl\u00e9 professional executive chef and golden chef judge Elke Travers said the standard \u201cwas exceptional and the competition was incredibly close, with so much talent in the room\u201d.<\/p>\n
Judges described Rose\u2019s two-course winning meal, which was cooked within a two-and-a-half-hour time period, as a standout performance, \u201cfull of creativity, technical skill and outstanding attention to detail\u201d.<\/p>\n
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Rose\u2019s winning main: Glazed lamb skewer served with cranberry gastrique jus, pistachio-lamb crumb, mint gel, cauliflower pur\u00e9e and nutmeg-spiced butternut, accompanied by Maggi Natural mashed potato. Photo: Supplied.<\/p>\n
Balancing a career as a chef de partie in one of Canberra\u2019s most respected venues whilst maintaining a focus on the future takes a lot of discipline from the chef, who is only 24.<\/p>\n
\u201cI entered the competition for a second time to challenge myself and continue developing my skills while pushing my creativity and refining my personal style with new dishes,\u201d Rose said.<\/p>\n
Pushing her creativity is a skill that Rose learned in the kitchens at Rebel Rebel, where chef and owner Sean McConnell, along with his wife and business partner Jenny Harders, have together built a cult-like status for their own personal brand of casual yet refined dining.<\/p>\n
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Rose is honing her skills at Rebel Rebel. Photo: PewPew Studio.<\/p>\n
Rose\u2019s win will see her move to the final stage of the competition, where 11 top young chefs from across Australia and New Zealand will compete in front of a live audience for a grand prize that includes a culinary journey to Singapore<\/p>\n
For Rose, a win at the national level is more about the experience and the doors it opens for her in her burgeoning career.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m excited to take that next step, working with amazing mentors and building meaningful connections within the industry,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy goal is to work in some of the best restaurants around the world and learn from top creative chefs who foster great kitchen culture.\u201d<\/p>\n