Q&A with the Nestlé Golden Chefs Hat Awards Regional Winner, Emily Morgan

Aug 09, 2024

Emily Morgan aged 18 who works as a chef de partie at Bianca in Auckland is all fired up to compete in the Nestlé Golden Chefs Hat Awards grand finals in September at Fine Food Australia. She’ll be representing the North Island when she hits the competition floor hoping to bring home the coveted Golden Chef of the Year title.

While she will be up against some stiff competition, two New Zealanders – Sam Heaven and Gabby Sanders – have previously won the top award before. After his win, Sam went on to work at the Fat Duck in London.

We put a bunch of questions to Emily to find out what inspires her and why she loves to challenge herself by competing in such a high pressure live culinary cook off. Here’s what she had to say:

What inspired you to become a chef?
I’ve always wanted to be a chef since I was a little kid and was naturally drawn to the kitchen and cooking throughout my childhood.

How are you preparing for the Golden Chefs grand finals?
I’m doing a training session twice a week where I’m slowly developing and perfecting my dishes.

I'm aiming to do an entirely carrot-based entree, a coffee rub on my main course protein, and a pear-themed dessert. I’ll also look to showcase my pastry skills for the dessert such as baked meringue petals or a sour pear gel, plus I’m hoping to use some New Zealand spices as a part of my main course.

How do you handle the pressure of cooking in a live competitive environment?
My top tip is don’t let the pressure get to you and remember to keep smiling. I also take great pride in the fact that I’m representing New Zealand at such a prestigious competition.

For anyone wanting to compete in Golden Chefs, just remember to give everything a go because you have nothing to lose. If you work hard and set your mind to it, anything is possible.

Do you have a signature dish?
I make from scratch my own pork cabbage and chive dumplings - they are a family favourite.

How do you stay inspired and continue to innovate in the kitchen?
My natural passion and interest in food create excitement and creativity which I’m able to project in the kitchen through innovative and creative ways. 

What are your long-term career goals in the culinary world?
I’d like to travel and see the world and learn about culture through food. My dream job would be working at the El Dellar de Can Roca restaurant in Spain.

What do you hope to learn by competing at Golden Chefs?
I hope to make new connections in the industry, expand my career prospects and meet some amazing people throughout the competition journey.

I also want to learn more about myself through the competition and discover what kind of chef I aspire to be, and how I can best reflect that in the dishes that I create.

Keep up with the Golden Chef’s competition and Emily as she battles for the top spot here on Facebook @goldenchefs and Instagram @golden_chefs