Guest of Honour

Appetite for Excellence has had the honour of welcoming some of the world’s most renowned restaurant industry leaders as Guests of Honour at our prestigious awards presentations.

In 2006, we had the privilege of welcoming Mr. Michel Roux, O.B.E to present the awards to our 2006 finalists and Young Chef winner; Beau Vincent.  The following year, Mr. Mark Edwards, Global Executive Chef of the world renowned Nobu restaurants, presented the awards to our 2007 chef and waiter finalists and winners; Melanie Gowers, the 2007 Young Chef winner and Jai Leighton, the 2007 Young Waiter winner, who both enjoyed the opportunity to work with Mark’s teams at Nobu London.

Tom Aikens, one of the youngest chefs to be awarded a Michelin Star presented the awards to our 2008 young chef and waiter finalists and winners; Jake Nicolson, the 2008 Young Chef winner and Leanne Altmann, the 2008 Young Waiter winner. They both travelled to London for work experience at Tom Aikens restaurant as part of their prize package.

We were thrilled to announce that David Thompson as our Guest of Honour and Patron in 2009.  Having cemented a widely acclaimed reputation as a Thai Culinary expert both here and overseas, he made headlines with his first restaurant Darley Street Thai, Sydney in 1991;  followed by Sailors Thai, Sydney. Since then he opened Nahm Restaurant at the Halkin Hotel, London in 2002 which was awarded a Michelin star for 8 years.  The second Nahm recently opened in Bangkok in July 2010.

In 2010 Guest of Honour and Patron was Brett Graham from the Ledbury, London. Originally from Newcastle, he now calls London home and has been awarded two Michelin Stars at the Ledbury.  Our 2010 winners will be travelling to London later this year to take up work experience in his restaurant and represent Australia in the Sanpellegrino cooking cup in Venice in June.

In 2011, our Guest of Honour was Shane Osborne, we are humbled to have hosted Shane on his return to Australia to support young up and coming talent. Shane was the first Australian chef to receive a Michelin Star at Pied A Terre, London.  In 2000,  Osborn took over as head-chef and co-owner and was awarded his first Michelin star – the first ever for an Australian chef.  In 2003 he received his second star.

Our 2012 program featured two fantastic home grown chefs: Mark Best and Peter Gilmore.

Mark Best Originally from Western Australia, started his culinary career at 25 years of age. In 1999 he opened his first restaurant in Balmain to critical acclaim. After perusing a developing passion for French cuisine, he now owns and operates Marque Restaurant in Sydney.

Peter Gilmore was born and bred in Sydney, started his apprenticeship at 16 years of age. After travelling to England, he returned to Australia and worked in a host of boutique restaurants across the country, the city and the beaches. He is now the executive chef of Quay Restaurant.