NZ Chefs Chef of the Year 2026

 

NZ Chefs' Chef of the Year 2026
 

Class 2601: NZ Chefs Chef of the Year

This is a duathlon style event. Competing in class 2501 and 2502 is a compulsory requirement to be eligible to be named NZ Chef of the Year. The title will be awarded to the person with the highest aggregate score from both events. Each event is judged individually and has class winners.
 

Class 2601 (A): Three Course ‘Live Kitchen’ Menu

Sunday 4th October: 9 am - 12 midday | 3 hours

This is a compulsory event for competitors in Class 2601 NZ Chef of the Year.

Competitors are required to produce a 3-course menu for 4 covers prepared and served within 3 hrs under Worldchefs competition guidelines. All courses are to be individually plated. The menu should be suitable for serving in an upmarket restaurant.

1st Course Dish to showcase Kapiti cheese as the hero ingredient from the supplied product list to be presented at 45 minutes into the competition

Main Course which must feature Waitoa Chicken as the hero ingredient, cooked using two different methods and be complemented by at least Two (2) vegetables, appropriate starch and sauce and Nestlé product to be presented between at 1 hr 45 min and 2 hrs into the competition

Dessert must feature fruit/fruit product and include one (1) Nestlé product and one (1) Queen product.
to be before the 2 hr 15min mark of the competition

Note ALL elements for course 1 can be brought in pre-prepared to allow competitors to showcase some of the more time-consuming techniques such as dehydrating, fermenting, pickling etc. However, the dish MUST be assembled during the competition and all pre-prepared items MUST be the work of the individual competitor. ALL elements for dish 2 and 3 MUST be fully prepared in the competition arena during the stipulated time frame.

Choose Nestlé products from the list below.

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Sponsors products supplied

Any or all dairy used must be from the Anchor Food Professionals range.

Confirmed competitors must email a list of Anchor products they require in this class to info@nzchefs.co.nz

For Kapiti product information visit here 

Competitors will be provided with a 1.3 kg Waitoa chicken.

Competitors are to bring in all other ingredients required.

Information about sponsors product

Nestlé Professional products

• Buitoni sugo al pomodoro (tomato coulis)
• Maggi classic gluten free mashed potato mix 4kg
• Maggi coconut milk powder mix
• Nestlé royal chocolate couverture
• Nestlé docello snowcap white compound chocolate
• Nestlé docello french vanilla mousse mix
• Kitkat spread
• Carnation creamy evaporated milk
• Nestlé sweetened condensed milk
• Uncle Tobys traditional oats
• Buondi steady state coffee beans
• Maggi vegetable booster
• Maggi jus lie
• Maggi demi glace sauce mix

Queen connect here

Application form available

Please apply by 15 August 2026

Confirmed competitors will be advised by end of August 2026.

Medal/Award Ceremony approximately 4:30pm

 

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Class 2502: Mystery Box Main Course
Sunday 4th October 2026
1 pm - 2:15pm | 15 min Menu writing plus 60 min cooking

A compulsory event for competitors in Class 2500 NZ Chef of the Year.

This is a mystery box style event where competitors must produce four (4) portions of an individually plated main course cooked within 60 minutes. The mystery box will contain some compulsory ingredients that must be showcased in the final dish. 
All other ingredients will be optional. The dish must be a balanced main course featuring protein, appropriate starch, vegetables and sauce.

Competitors are not required to bring any products to this class. Use the products provided in the mystery box. There will be a shared table of basic ingredients. At 12:30pm competitors will be given 15 minutes to view the mystery box, organise their ingredients and draft their menu.

Competitors must provide 2 hand written description cards with the final dish but do not have to provide recipes.

Application form available here

Please apply by 15 August 2026

Confirmed competitors will be advised by the end of August 2026.

Awards/Medal Ceremony approximately 4:30pm on 3 October 2026

Note To be eligible to be awarded the Chef of the Year title, competitors must achieve a minimum overall standard of silver medal.
 

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