Following the success of the 2015 National Salon, NZChefs are proud to announce that New Zealand’s national hospitality championship event will be back again in 2016.
This year’s NZChefs National Salon will run from Thursday 28th July to Sunday 31st July alongside The Auckland Food Show at the Logan Campbell Centre, ASB Showgrounds. The Salon will feature competitions ranging from the hotly contested Nestlé Toque d’Or to the ever popular Curry Cup, Kiwi Kids Can Cook, and Barista, Bartender and Bed Making classes as well as Open Culinary events.
An important change to note for the 2016 championships is the requirement for all entrants in the “of the Year” competitions to compete in a regional qualifying round to earn their spot in the National Finals in Auckland.
Regional Qualifying Competitions will be held for the following titles:
- Chef of the Year
- Commis Chef of the year
- Pastry Chef of the Year
- Barista of the Year
- Service Person of the Year
- Bartender of the Year
- Cocktail Champion of the Year
- Kiwi Kids Can Cook (Primary School Competition)
- College Challenge
Competitors will need to participate in and be placed at one of the seven regional competitions in order to have a chance at battling it out for the National title in Auckland.
NZChefs National President Graham Hawkes says, “the new format will allow more people to enter the competitions, plus it will give them an opportunity to practice and refine their dishes in a competitive environment before the National Finals”.
Details of the ‘Of the Year’ qualifying round competitions and Open Classes, which anyone can enter, will be available on the NZChefs website www.nzchefs.org.nz
New to the Salon this year is the ‘Rookie Cook of the Year’ for under 25’s, which will be judged by former Chef of the Year and International Award winner William Mordido. Also added to the timetable is a High Tea class, the People’s Choice ‘Best Banger Competition and an old school Gueridon Service event.
The International Feature competition is the Gourmet Pacific Challenge where teams from Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands will compete for the Pacific Rim title.
Keen High School students should start sharpening their knives too, as this year’s prize for the College Challenge Event is a trip to Sydney to represent NZChefs at the ‘International Secondary Schools Culinary Competition’.
Visitors to the 2016 National Salon can watch the Barista and Cocktail events from the closer vantage point of the Logan Campbell Centre foyer and see the NZChefs Fonterra Culinary Olympic Team compete in preparation for the World Championships in Germany.
So lock the date in your dairies now and we look forward to seeing you there!
NZChefs National Salon – NZ’s Hospitality Championships:
Thursday 28th July – Sunday 31st July 2016
Logan Campbell Centre, ASB Showgrounds, Greenlane
8am – 5pm each day
Check www.nzchefs.org.nz for more information
