Melbourne chef crowned 2024 Nestlé Golden Chef of the Year

Archer Houghton, an apprentice chef from Mercer’s Restaurant in Melbourne, has been named as the 2024 Nestlé Golden Chef of the Year.

The grand final of the Nestlé Golden Chef’s Hat Award took place in Melbourne last week and saw 10 national finalists battle it out for the title. Established in 1965, the competition is Australia’s longest-running for young chefs and, in total, Archer beat 133 other competitors to take first place.

“All those months training for the regionals through to finals was made possible thanks to the support of our mentors and sponsors,” says Archer.

“While I’m extremely proud to be crowned the Nestlé Golden Chef of the Year and take out this incredible prize, it’s the new skills I’ve learned and friendships I’ve made which I’ll cherish forever. This is such a meaningful award, and I can’t wait to see what comes next in my career thanks to this.”

The judges praised the winner for his maturity, technique, and ‘showcasing fresh flavours and surprising textural contrasts.’ His winning dishes included: mushroom and tofu custard with picked vegetables and beetroot gazpacho; seared rostbiff with a cottage pie, roasted carrot, wilted greens, and black pepper sauce; and strawberry and pink peppercorn mousse with a macadamia and coconut crumble, fresh berry salad and basil foam.

As well as the title of 2024 Nestlé Golden Chef of the Year, as part his prize Archer will receive a 14-day all-expenses-paid trip to the Worldchefs Congress in Singapore and work experience at a “renowned restaurant”.