Six young Victorian apprentice chefs have been announced as finalists in the 2008 Thierry Marx Career Development Award. This year has seen over double the number of entrants following the success of the 2007 inaugural event.
Entrants were received from across regional Victoria and Melbourne restaurants and caterers. The competition, now in its second year, is offering two Victorian cookery apprentices the chance to spend a month in France working with Thierry Marx - the 2006 Relais Gourmands French Chef of the Year.
2008 Thierry Marx Career Development Award finalists include:
Petros Dellidis - The Press Club, Melbourne
Ryan Spurrell - Vue de Monde, Melbourne
Adrian Smith - Gingerboy, Melbourne
Kate Niewenhuizen- Pettavel Winery and Restaurant, Waurn Ponds
Natalie Watkins - Waddingtons at Kergunyah, Kergunyah
Robert Tucker - Emeu Inn Restaurant, Heathcote
As part of the judging process, finalists can now expect a workplace visit from the judging panel who, will interview and observe their performance under the normal rigors of their daily working conditions. Finalists will be assessed and scored on areas including motivation, attitude, presentation and teamwork.
The two winners will be named on May 28 at a luncheon at the Brassiere by Philippe Mouchel. The winners will travel to France in early August for a month to work at Thierry Marx’s Chateau Cordeillan-Bages in Bordeaux.
