EVENTS
Hunter Culinary Association delivers a superior culinary experience across its annual calendar of events for its members and guests.
Each year, we organise two seasonal lunches, an autumn and spring lunch. The lunches begin with a workshop aimed at educating apprentices, members and guests about the new trends, produce and technology being used in the industry and our events consistently attract some of Australia’s finest guest chefs.
It is an opportunity for guest chefs to share their knowledge, talent, experience and passion with local apprentices, members and guests.
The annual Food Fight is the signature calendar event organised each year by Hunter Culinary Association. Four chefs, each at the top of their game, will prepare one lunch course. Each course will be matched with a Hunter Valley wine, and guests will be tasked with voting for the dish they preferred at the end of the gourmet feast. See previous Food Fight themes & Chefs at the bottom of this page.
Hunter Culinary Association also runs competitions, scholarships and award programs as well as Produce Tours and workshops.
Coming Events
AUTUMN SEASONAL LUNCH
Tuesday 1st April 2025, Scratchleys, 200 Wharf Rd, Newcastle
Join us for a 3 course seafood lunch hosted by the team at Scratchleys matched with premium Hunter Valley wines.
There will be a Caviar demonstration at 11am by Eustralis and then canapes commencing at 11.30am.
HCA Member tickets $140, Non members $170 and Apprentices subsidised at $50.
LAST MINUTE TICKETS AVAILABLE
FOOD FIGHT PREVIOUS CHEFS
FOOD FIGHT 2024 - KEEPING IT LOCAL, VALLEY VS NEWY Mitch Beswick, Sam Alexander, Matt Smith & Nicolas Pedemonte
FOOD FIGHT 2023 - 12TH ANNUAL Richmond Rodrigues, Jake Deluca, Sarah Knights & Jason Dean
FOOD FIGHT 2022 - HOSPITALITY FIGHTS BACK MK2 Joshua Raine, Alexis Besseau, Michael Portley & Thomas Waite
FOOD FIGHT 2020 & 2021 Unfortunately cancelled due to Covid 19
FOOD FIGHT 2019 - 10 DELICIOUS YEARS Thomas Boyd, Troy Crisante, Eilish Maloney & George Mirosevich
FOOD FIGHT 2018 - INDIVIDUAL BATTLE Joel Bickford, Mitch Orr, Frank Fawkner & Hamish Watt
FOOD FIGHT 2017 - TOP GUN Sean Townsend, Aaron Ward, Rob Kabboord & Gareth Williams
FOOD FIGHT 2016 - TEAM BRETT GRAHAM Josh Gregory, Troy Rhoades-Brown, Chris Thornton & Garreth Robbs VS TEAM BANC Warren Turnbull, Colin Fassnidge, Matthew Kemp & Justin North.
FOOD FIGHT 2015 - TEAM HUNTER Emerson Rodriguez, Troy Rhoades-Brown & Michael Robinson VS SOUTHERN NSW James Viles, Ben Willis & Sean McConnell,
FOOD FIGHT 2014 - BATTLE OF THE SEXES Sophie Hedges, Carla Jones & Rebecca Kaye VS Emerson Rodriguez, Michael Robinson & James Viles
FOOD FIGHT 2013 - HUNTER REGION MASTERS Robert Molines, Troy Rhoades-Brown & Michael Robinson VS YOUNG GUNS Frank Fawkner, Thomas Robinson & Mark Bennett
FOOD FIGHT 2012 - HUNTER REGION Troy Rhoades-Brown, Tim Montgomery, Emerson Rodriguez & Jamie Ryan VS SYDNEY Colin Fassnidge, Matt Kemp, Justin North & Warren Turnbull
FOOD FIGHT 2011 - HUNTER VALLEY Troy Rhoades-Brown, Emerson Rodriguez, Michael Bolam & Josh Davidson VS NEWCASTLE Glenn Thompson, Tony Harrison, Tim Montgomery & Jamie Ryan
FOOD FIGHT 2010 - BLUE TEAM Nick Vivian, Glenn Thomson & Troy Rhoades-Brown VS RED TEAM Andy Wright, Ian Atkinson & Andrew Clarke Unfortunately no team photos from this first year.