Luke Stephens, Executive Chef for four of Uniting NSW.ACT’s facilities from Farmborough Heights to Gerringong on the NSW South Coast, has competed in the $10,000 Foodservice Australia Chef of the Year competition in Melbourne.
It is the time chefs for the ageing sector have been among the 32 finalists for the competition, which finished on Tuesday.
The 31-year-old started working at Uniting NSW.ACT eight months ago and hails from Albury/Wodonga on the NSW/VIC border. He owned his first restaurant at aged 20 and has worked in the industry ever since.
Luke changes the menu for the residents every three weeks.
“All the food is local. We get our meat from J D Meats Gerringong and Albion Park Village Meats.
“The best part is sitting down with the residents and see them enjoy the food.
“I have nothing to lose in the final and I am just going to enjoy every minute.”
Tom Hitchcock, Head Chef, at The Spirit House Restaurant, Yandina, on QLD’s Sunshine Coast was judged Foodservice Australia Chef of the Year.