Graduate wins top culinary competition
Emily Morgan has won the prestigious 2025 Nestlé Golden Chef of the Year.
The recent AUT culinary arts graduate beat out some of the most talented young chefs in Australia and New Zealand to clinch the title.
The 19-year-old from Titirangi also scooped $17,400 in prizes, as well as awards for the Most Creative use of a Nestle Product and the Nestle Docello Best Dessert Dish at the competition.
AUT culinary arts Lecturer Geoff Scott was one of Emily’s tutors at AUT and helped her prepare for the competition.
He says he was not surprised when Emily took out the title because on competition day she was focused and relaxed but competing with a sense of urgency and a polished professionalism.
"Her three innovative creative courses were all presented with precision timing," Scott says.
"It has been a privilege to see Emily not only learn all the fundamental cooking skills, but to see her develop and refine them through being brave and confident, and taking that first step to enter cooking competitions.
"I saw her two years ago walk into the AUT production kitchen for the first time. Fast forward to when she was on stage - and I had flash backs of all the steps she took - over the past two years - in the Diploma of Culinary Arts. What an incredible journey.
"Not only has she recently graduated but has achieved so much in such a short space of time: winning numerous competition accolades, being a founding member of the NZ Young Chefs Club and Committee member - and all the time working in industry.”
Emily says she expressed who she was as a chef through the competition.
"It’s been an honour to share the stage with such talented chefs, and I am so grateful to each of the finalists for their ongoing support and friendship throughout this experience,” she says.
“This is certainly a milestone moment, and I hope there will be many more to come as I look ahead to new opportunities and travel through food."
Nestlé Professional General Manager Kristina Czepl says that over the past 60 years the competition has helped boost the careers of thousands of rising stars.
“These young competitors are our future head chefs, restaurateurs, and culinary innovators.
"Chef Emily, congratulations on a deserving win for yourself and for your community. We cannot wait to see how far you will go."