FOOD & WINE - LISA ROCKMAN Wednesday June 25, 2025

Victory is sweet for Josh Hannan

Yesterday's HCA FoodFight chefs, left to right, Rafael Tonon, Kyle Whitbourne, Josh Hannan and Steve Scott. Picture by Dominique Cherry

Josh Hannan is the winner of this year's Hunter Culinary Association Food Fight. The head chef at EXP Restaurant was in fine form at Rydges Resort Hunter Valley yesterday, impressing a crowd of close to 300 with his dessert: a citron tart with yuzu, lemon myrtle, koji and Pukara Estate olive oil.

This year's Food Fight, Hunter Culinary Association's (HCA) signature fund-raising event, was an all-Hunter affair with a "refined bistro classics" theme. Each chef anonymously prepared one course, and diners voted for their favourite.

Josh was up against Steve Scott (The Del), Rafael Tonon (Alfie's, Frenchie) and Kyle Whitbourne. He trained at Sydney's Pony Dining and went on to work at the Bentley Group's restaurants, where he explored vegan cuisine at Yellow and refined his pastry techniques at Bentley. Moving to the Hunter Region in 2022, Josh quickly stepped into a leadership role at EXP, where he helped them earn a Good Food Guide Chef's Hat and won an Eustralis Pastry Scholarship.

The first course at yesterday's Food Fight was a Caesar Salad with smoked crocodile, tomato xo, buttermilk and cured yolk (cooked by Kyle). The second course was a Surf and Turf with chicken, scallop, shiitake and kombu beurre blanc (Rafael), while course number three was a Wellington with Alpine Venison, duxelle, blackberry and celeriac (Steve).

Wines from De Iuliis, First Creek, Margan, Peter Drayton, Scarborough and Andrew Thomas accompanied each course. Matt Kemp and Colin Fassnidge (or the "odd couple", as HCA chairman Gus Maher referred to them) hosted the event and were awarded this year's HCA Outstanding Contribution Award.

"I shudder to think what it would cost for these two celebrated chefs, or their like, if we were seeking their services through a talent agency, and they should never underestimate our gratitude and recognition of that fact," Gus said. "With one now a high-profile media personality, and the other continuing as one of Australia's highest profile, celebrated and sought-after chefs we are truly honoured that you still grace our humble portals.

"The Food Fight is always a highlight on the Hunter Culinary Association calendar. "We are always so appreciative of the four chefs who give their time, knowing that they spearhead our major fundraiser, ensuring that our suite of scholarships for young and aspiring apprentice chefs, and other hospitality industry staff, are possible."

Hunter Culinary Association is a not-for profit guided by a group of industry professionals who volunteer their time to support and promote the region and give back to the industry that they are so passionate about. As well as create new opportunities for its members, HCA nurtures our region's talent through initiatives including the Brett Graham Scholarship, front-of-house scholar ships, apprentice scholarships, the Eustralis Pastry Chef Award, apprentice cooking competitions, front-of-house workshops and produce tours.

30th October 2024

Leonardo Milan has won the Hunter’s top scholarship prize

Flotilla‘s Leonardo Milan has taken the top honour at the Hunter Culinary Association’s annual scholarship competition.

The competition, now in its 23rd year, offers young chefs from the Hunter region a chance to win a $10,000 cash prize and a career-changing placement at London restaurant The Ledbury, a prestigious three Michelin-starred establishment run by Hunter-born food master, Brett Graham.

Milan faced off against two other highly skilled chefs in the finals, selected from a pool of eight preliminary finalists to take out the top spot.

“Leo is as passionate as young chefs can get, he’s confident and has the discipline to become a great chef. This opportunity is next level for him, and we couldn’t be prouder,” co-owner of Flotilla, Eduardo Molina said.

For the past three years, Leo has trained under the expert guidance of Molina along with Flotilla’s head chefs Jake Deluca and Liam Gray.

The $10,000 cash award, sponsored by both the Hunter Culinary Association and TAFE NSW, will help cover Milan’s travel and accommodation in London, providing him the financial backing to pursue this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

“It’s a career-changing opportunity for this young guy and the first time a fellow Novocastrian will have the opportunity to work at The Ledbury since attaining 3 Michelin Stars,” Hunter Culinary Association Deputy Chair, Joey Ingram said.

Written by Winnie Stubs - Thursday 4th July 2024

This NSW city has made a global list of the top 10 most underrated destinations in the world

Newcastle – the second largest city in the state – was just ranked as one of the world's hidden gems by travel experts.

It’s hard to argue that Australia’s east coast – with its award winning beaches and world-famous landmarks – is a "hidden gem" when it comes to tourism. In fact, regional NSW currently stands as Australia’s most popular domestic destination, attracting 66 million domestic visitors in the year leading up to March 2024, and a further 694,400 international visitors from around the world. And although places like Byron Bay are household names even outside of Australia, there are so many towns and cities across the state that attract far less hype, but are very much worthy of a spot on any travel bucket list. One prime example is Newcastle – the coastal city two hours' north of Sydney has just been listed among the top ten most underrated travel destionations in the world. 

The list of the world’s most underrated destinations was put together by the international Time Out Travel team, in an effort to help ease the burden that overtourism is having around the world. Rather than shining (another) light on the Postitanos and Pisas of this world, the list aims to highlight the under-the-radar destinations worthy of a visit – and Newcastle came in at number nine. The coastal city on the lands of the Awabakal and Worimi people is one of only two Aussie destinations that made the list, with Tasmania coming in at number seven.

See Full Story

NEWS - Thursday June 27, 2024 By Simon McCarthy

Yellow Billy maestro smokes competition in Food Fight

Chef Sam Alexander’s winning dish.

FOUR of Newcastle and the Hunter Valley's top chefs squared off in a battle of the culinary arts this week, setting their unique styles against each other in a four-course blind lunch to see whether the city or the valley could lay claim to the region's best.

The 13th annual Hunter Culinary Association's 'Food Fight' was hosted at Rydges in the Hunter Valley on June 25 in a packed room of industry representatives, who were served a four-course degustation paired with a selection of the region's renowned wines.

Sam Alexander from Yellow Billy, Mitchell Beswick from Muse, Nicolas Pedemonte from Ape Yakitori Bar and Matthew Smith from Crystalbrook Kingsley each presented a dish for the feast.

The competition was fierce, with the near 350 guests casting their votes to determine the winner of this culinary showdown.

After a suite of canapes prepared by apprentice chefs, the first course of smoked beetroots on a bed of whipped ricotta, topped with sumac pickled onions, pomegranate molasses and dukkah, paired with First Creek's 2024 rose, set what would be an unbeatable bar.

Chef Sam Alexander, a culinary prodigy who honed his skills at Bistro Molines and worked under the tutelage of Jeremy and Jane Strode in Sydney, emerged as the day's victor.

The win was a testament to his exceptional culinary talent and the high standard of the competition. The Yellow Billy chef, who is known for cooking over an open flame, said during the event that he learned some thing from each new fire. "Every time you light the fire, you learn something new, and carry that on to the fire tomorrow," he said.

The event, including a charity auction and $2000 scholarships for five young apprentices- $1000 worth of chef knives and another $1000 in dining vouchers has run annually for more than a decade.

In his opening message, Hunter Culinary Association chairman Gus Maher told guests that the organisation's signature event brought the industry together in its common cause.

By Jess Gauci, Play, Sydney, Travel / 10 May 2024

Pack your bags and pick up a luxurious Apollo campervan to explore the Hunter Valley region.

Escape the hustle and bustle of city life and find serenity in the Hunter Valley. Renowned for its tranquil ambience, world-class wineries, and top-notch dining options, this charming region is an idyllic destination for a weekend retreat.

See Full Story featuring many of our great member restaurants and wineries.

NEWCASTLE LIVE Tuesday 14th May 2024

Meet the local chefs who will battle it out at this year’s Food Fight

The annual Food Fight has announced the four local chefs who will battle it out at Hunter Culinary’s 2024 event at Rydges Resort.

Mitchell Beswick from Muse Restaurant, Sam Alexander from Yellow Billy, Matthew Smith from Crystalbrook Kingsley and Nicolas Pedemonte from Apé Yakitori Bar & Restaurant will all vie for the dinner’s vote at the popular lunch this in June.

“These guys are all highly accomplished chefs, who have all contributed to the rise and rise of the Hunter culinary scene over the past few years,” Chairman of the Hunter Culinary Association, Gus Maher said.

Each course of the event, meticulously crafted by a master chef and shrouded in secrecy until revealed to eager diners, will be flawlessly complemented by wines First Creek, Margan, Peter Drayton, Thomas, and Usher Tinkler.

The event will raise funds to help Hunter’s Culinary continue to nurture talent in the region.

“We urge foodies, consumers, the industry and our supporters to book early and dig deep, as this event is the annual fundraiser that we have developed over the years to largely fund the enormous number of initiatives we, the HCA, implement to nurture culinary talent in our region, ensuring that we keep great people employed in the fantastic food scene that we have together grown,” Gus said.

“This year it’s a great example of this talent that has been nurtured in our region and a great reason to come along and support these four great chefs and the restaurants they represent.”

The 2024 Food Fight is happening at Rydges Resort in the Hunter Valley on Tuesday, 25 June. For more information and tickets visit hunterculinary.com.au.

Written by Avril Treasure - Tuesday 6 February 2024

Newcastle-born Brett Graham is the first Aussie chef to win three prestigious stars for his restaurant, The Ledbury in the UK

In breaking news, Newcastle born-chef Brett Graham has been awarded three Michelin stars for his restaurant The Ledbury in Notting Hill, UK. And while fellow Australian chef Matt Abé leads the kitchen of the three-Michelin-starred Restaurant Gordon Ramsay in London, Graham is the first-ever Australian to win the prestigious three stars for a venue he owns, making this a historic moment in the culinary world.

Growing up by the beach in Newcastle, Graham started cooking at age 15 at a local Seafood Restaurant. From there he moved to Sydney, refining his skills at Banc restaurant, where he won the Josephine Pignolet Young Chef of the Year Award. Then, Graham relocated to London, where he was mentored by Phil Howard at The Square in London. At age 25, he opened The Ledbury in 2005, serving modern yet refined English fare, which won him his first Michelin star in 2006, and subsequent two Michelin stars in 2010. Now, The Ledbury has been awarded the prestigious three stars, regarded as the highest accolade in the food world.

Passionate about giving back to his community and mentoring up-and-coming chefs, Graham is heavily involved with the The Hunter Culinary Association, a not-for-profit association which supports the region's chefs and restaurants. Each year one chef in the region is awarded the Brett Graham Scholarship, which involves a trip to London to work and learn with Graham himself.

Time Out heard Brett Graham speak at the Hunter Valley Food Fight in 2023 and was moved by his warmth, down-to-earth nature, and generosity of time. A massive congratulations – it couldn't have happened to a nicer and more talented chef.

FOOD & WINE By Lisa Rockman - Wednesday November 8, 2023

Young guns impress at ‘cook off’

Apprentice chef Nicholas Smith, from Saddles at Mount White, is this year's Brett Graham Scholarship winner. Picture by Chris Elfes

In what is promising news for Newcastle and the Hunter Region's culinary scene, a record 12 apprentice chefs competed in the 21st annual Brett Graham Scholarship this year.

Three finalists cooked off at TAFE NSW's Hamilton campus last week and the winner was Nicholas Smith, from Saddles at Mount White. As part of his $10,000 prize he will travel to the UK and work alongside former Newcastle chef Brett Graham at his two-Michelin-starred London restaurant, The Ledbury.

Nicholas competed against Lachlan Dowsett (Bistro Molines, Mount View) and Tyler Swinkels (Emelio's, Warners Bay), and each were tasked with preparing three courses for 60 guests. The winning menu by Nicholas included a "63-degree egg" with grilled asparagus, prawn cannelloni, and a white chocolate mousse with green tea jelly.

TAFE NSW head teacher of commercial cookery, Mark McManus, said each finalist demonstrated a high standard of technical ability.

"We had the best of the best on show and all the finalists should be proud of how they performed," he said. "There is so much work that goes into the preparation behind the scenes and the experience they have gained here is invaluable. As a chef, you need to be able to perform under pressure and think clearly in a high stress environment.

"It's an exciting industry full of potential as you can travel anywhere and constantly learn and expand your skills. Our teachers have prepared them well and we can't wait to see what they do next."

Ashton Stacey, from Brokenwood Wines, was the recipient of this year's Scarborough Wine Co Front of House Scholarship, and the Rising Star Front of House Award was presented to Raya Costello, from Jimmy Joans at Lovedale.

The Brett Graham Scholarship is a joint initiative between the Hunter TAFE Foundation and the Hunter Culinary Association aimed at nurturing young and aspiring apprentice chefs. Previous winners include Troy Rhoades-Brown, Josh Gregory, Garreth Robbs, Chris Thornton and George Mirosevich.

"It seems the future of our industry is in good hands, and with a record number of Brett Graham Scholarship applicants, it would appear that interest in cheffing is reassuringly high," Hunter Culinary Association chair Gus Maher said. "Most guests thought that the dishes presented were up there with the very best we have seen over the years. Well done to all the young talent involved, and best of luck to our winner Nicholas who I'm sure we will be seeing more of."

Jerome Scarborough, Ashton Stacey, Raya Costello and Gus Maher. Picture by Chris Elfes