20TH ANNIVERSARY FOUNDERS LUNCH

Autumn 2026 Mount View Estate

What a day! 180 members and guests attended this lunch celebrating both our Founders and the 20th anniversary of the formation of what was then Hunter Chefs & Co.
 
Over the 20 years, your industry association has continued to flourish and build on what even then was a strong vision of assisting young and aspiring Apprentices entering into the industry. We now also embrace front of house professionals with scholarships as well as promoting the overall Hunter hospitality industry.
 
To honour our five Founders, they were all inducted as Life Members of the Hunter Culinary Association. Joining our original Chairman Ben Neill as Life Members are -
 
Jamie Hartcher – formerly Exec Chef at Peppers Chez Pok
Robert Molines – formerly Exec Chef/Owner of Roberts
Brad Teale – formerly Exec Chef of Esca Bimbadgen
Nick Vivian – formerly Exec Chef of Lazzarinis
Andy Wright – formerly Exec Chef/Owner of The Cellar
 
We envisaged the strong attendance and elected to hold the lunch at a function venue – the stunning Mount View Estate.

Canapes and 3 courses were beautifully prepared by Hunter TAFE Apprentices and our HCA committee chefs Harry Callinan, Kyle Whitbourne, Josh Hannan and Steve Scott.

Thanks also go to Hunter TAFE Front of House Head Teacher Glenn Foster and his students for their great service on the day.