Chef of the Year 2020

I am very excited to be announced the National Chairman of Judges for Chef of the Year 2020.

Australian born & trained, John commenced his career in the kitchen at the age of 12, starting as a humble kitchen hand. He has over 37 years in the food industry and is well recognised for his attention to detail and leading mutiple teams and operations.

John commenced his apprenticeship aged 15,at The Lantern Palace Wamberal before completing at La Mer Fine Dining at Peppers on Sea at the age of 19. John moved quickly through the ranks with postings at notable restaurants in cluding the two hatted Grand Fine Dining Room at The Windsor Hotel, Hayman Island & Xu Bistro where he won best Hotel Dining Restaurant in Australia.

Along with Carol Selva Raja he was one of the youngest Australian chefs to be invited to cook at The James Beard Foundation in New York for 80 New York food critics. Johns last 15 years has been at a Group Executive Chef level overseeing teams Nationwide delivering varied food concepts and training programs.

John McFadden is one of the greatest all-rounders of the hospitality industry. from Fine Dining, Hotels, QSRS, Catering VCompanies and busy club spaces to helping providores and consulting to suppliers and industry McFadden is a highly- motivated chef whose attention to detail is well knowm industry wide. He is a great communicator, mentor and motivator who loves to share his broad experience with keen apprentices and rising chefs who aim to have the same exacting standards that John hold in high regard.

John has also assisted in the judging process for Bocue d`Or Australia, to select the Australian Culinary Team. He was recently invited by the founding Board of Women in Hospitality to be a culinary mentor for their program. John has just spent the last year and a half as a BDM for a fruit and vegetable providores working closely with farmers and growers. Today he is Group Executive Chef at Al Aseel Lebanese Restaurants, which has become one of the fastest growing Middle Eastern restaurant chains in NSW, with divisions extending to wholesale, retail, catering & events.