It’s good to know there’s a serious side to cooking competitions - very different to the fireworks and drama of Masterchef and other TV food shows. Every year there are dozens of culinary competitions across the country, where chefs compete against their peers to create the best flavours, textures and appearance, using a high level of skill and technical proficiency. They work against the clock, and sometimes don’t know what they’ll be cooking until the last minute – it’s a nerve-racking business!

To explain the competitive world of professional chefs, Ken Burgin talked with John McFadden, Executive Chef at the harbour-sydney.html"> Pan Pacific Hotels Group. He’s passionate about the industry, and dedicated to training the next generation of chefs and cooks. We discussed the competition scoring process, what judges look for in cooking techniques, the attitude of a winning chef and the value of these events to attract people to the industry. Connect with John on Linkedin, and see his food at the harbour-sydney.html"> Parkroyal Hotel.