The annual Eurest Culinary Competition brings our chefs together to celebrate the talent across our business and strengthen the food culture that connects our teams.
This year, chefs were invited to create a dish within a prescribed budget, showcasing not only their culinary skills but also the story behind their food, their site or their personal culinary journey.
Following the initial round of entries, three finalists were selected to compete in the Big Cook Off at the Brisbane Academy:
- Rahul Pagedar, Toyota Altona
- Alexandra Palma, Holiday Inn Express Sunshine Coast
- Manop Boonthod, Sydney Academy / NSW Office of Sport
Three hours, three talented chefs
The finalists had three hours to bring their dishes to life, with every part of their performance considered by the judging panel. Judging covered food safety, kitchen organisation, culinary skill, time management, professionalism and presentation, as well as the personal story behind each dish.
All three chefs approached the cook-off with creativity, focus and professionalism, representing their sites to an exceptionally high standard.
Eurest Culinary Champion of the Year
Rahul Pagedar was crowned the overall Eurest Culinary Champion of the Year, impressing the judges with a standout menu that demonstrated strong technical skill and attention to detail.
His dishes included house-made gnocchi, braised and pan-seared beef rib, crispy oyster mushrooms and an additional prawn taco dish.
A personal connection through food
Alexandra Palma received the Best Dish recognition for her outstanding pistachio tiramisu made with Colombian coffee.
The dish brought Alexandra’s Colombian background into the competition, creating a personal connection between her culinary journey and the food she presented.
Excellence in safety and organisation
Manop Boonthod received the Best Safety recognition, demonstrating excellent organisation, cleanliness and professionalism throughout the cook-off.
His barramundi was another highlight of the competition, with the judges noting that the fish was cooked to perfection.
Celebrating our chefs
The Big Cook Off was a fantastic demonstration of the talent, passion and creativity found across Eurest.
Congratulations to Rahul, Alexandra and Manop for reaching the final and representing their sites with such skill and professionalism. Their achievements reflect the strong food culture we continue to build across our business, and the people who bring it to life every day.
