Footscray chef Bridget Bottcher has scored a sizzling course win in Australia’s longest-running culinary competition.
Ms Bottcher, 22, took home gold for her entrée and silver for main and dessert courses at the recent 52nd Nestle Golden Chef’s Hat Award national finals.
Representing Victoria, the Crown Melbourne chef teamed up with Kimberly Tang, 20, to catch the judges’ attention with an entree of black and blue ocean trout, prawns two ways, chawanmushi, nori and cous cous sand, pickled daikon, fried enoki, black sesame puree and avocado mousse.
While it wasn’t Ms Bottcher’s first visit to the national finals, the high-pressure environment still brought on some nerves.
“But it’s high energy and a lot of fun and we’re very proud with the result,” she said.
“Gotta be happy with gold!”
Nestle Professional executive chef Mark Clayton said almost 300 young chefs from around Australia had put their cooking skills to the test to secure a spot in the national finals.
“The competition was fierce this year … we’re impressed with what the competitor’s bring to the plate, it’s truly inspiring.”
Benjamin Millar
