Apprentice chefs at Orange Ex-Services Club are going head-to-head against each other to settle once and for all who has the most popular dish at the Diggers restaurant.

Each apprentice has the opportunity to develop their own week-long exclusive dish for the Diggers menu, having free range to get creative and challenge themselves in expanding their culinary knowledge, experiencing the process of creating a dish from conception to its delivery.

Danny Evans, Executive Chef of Orange Ex-Services Club (OESC) knows all too well the pressures and the rigmarole of the lifestyle this profession throws at apprentices. “The journey for an aspiring culinary apprentice is not just stressful and tiresome but vigorous. Long days and nights sweating amongst the heat in controlled chaos shines optimism in the hope of becoming a renowned chef aspiring to share a piece of art on a plate. Our aim is to allow our apprentices to learn and shine. Our future is in their hands,” Danny states.

For any diners interested in getting involved, it’s as simple as ordering one of the apprentices’ dishes, grab a feedback form, score the dish out of 5-stars, and place it in the barrel located in Diggers.

“It’s been well received, it’s fun for the diners too, it’s like a mini-MasterChef experience and they get to be a part of it, that’s really exciting for the diners and the feedback has been really positive.

We’re hiring another five apprentices. We really want OESC to be a training hub for the Central West and the competition is all part of that program,” Danny said.

One of the chef apprentices, Reba Scott explained, “The competition gives us a chance to present a variety of our own ideas forward. It gives us an opportunity to test our skills that we’ve been learning at TAFE NSW into action within a professional setting.

Also, it is a great way for us to be able to listen to the diners in what they want on the menu. I know some apprentices have asked diners already and have incorporated that feedback into what they’re doing.”

“With the five apprentices we have here at OESC including myself, we have a little friendly banter between us all. Such as, I’m going to beat you and other comradery comments. It’s good to have a competition like this for everyone in the kitchen,” Reba says gleefully.

For the victorious apprentice, they’ll win a gift card valued at $250, where they’ll be able to spend it throughout the community to their liking.