The Culinary Program That Kickstarts Careers

Established by Anchor^TM Food Professionals in 1999, the program has been a building block for the culinary industry. It takes place over four days, and hosts 32 up-and-coming chefs who learn to sharpen their skills, ignite their creativity and meet world-class chefs that expose them to once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.

An impressive alumni 

To date it’s supported more than 800 apprentices from across Australia and helped carve a path for some seriously talented young chefs. This includes 2025’s savoury mentor, George Calombaris, who won the coveted international culinary scholarship in 1999. 

This year’s winner, NSW’s own Georgia Manganas from The Shellharbour Club in Wollongong, proved just how much passion and dedication goes into club kitchens by demonstrating her exceptional skills to go on to win the international culinary scholarship.

“Winning this scholarship has been amazing,” says Georgia.

“It’s encouraged me to push myself even further in my career. It has also opened up new opportunities, such as being invited to events where I’ve had the chance to speak and present.

“It’s been a real eye-opener to realise there are huge opportunities in the industry and through this program we get to see first-hand how far we can go.”

With plans to use her scholarship to continue enhancing her pastry skills in Melbourne, for now you can find Georgia back at her ‘second home’ of The Shellharbour Club, whipping up culinary delights for happy patrons. 

As for some of the other Proud to be a Chef alumni, 2023 winner Archer Houghton recently won Nestle's Golden Chef Hat Award 2024, demonstrating culinary skills beyond his years. Plus, 2024’s Alfred Barretto took home a Gold Medal and the coveted Award Of Excellence, hosted by Les Toques Blanches Australia.

Meanwhile, Amber Heaton, Proud to be a Chef’s 2020 winner, is gearing up to represent Australia at the 2024 Worldchefs Congress and Expo in Singapore. So far, she’s represented her country at more than 33 culinary competitions, both locally and internationally, working alongside and rubbing shoulders with some of the world’s most prestigious chef legends.

Want to learn the tricks of the trade?

Proud to be a Chef is a hub of talent and hard work, and the opportunity to learn from such decorated chefs is the icing on the cake. 

That’s why, for the 25th year, our world-class mentors, like George Calombaris, chef resident mentor Mark Normoyle and pastry mentor Angelica Iuliano, are set to reveal some of the most sought-after tricks of the trade. Up-and-coming chefs won’t want to miss out.

Do you have the right ingredients to succeed? Apply now at www.proudtobeachef.com/au before 31 October 2024.