Adelaide chef to battle for global culinary honour
A chef at one of the state’s priciest restaurants has landed a coveted spot in the battle to win a global foodie competition.
Restaurant Botanic executive chef Jamie Musgrave has won a spot among the final 10 young chefs from Australia and New Zealand in a kitchen battle to represent the Pacific in Italy next year.
Musgrave beat thousands of global applications to earn his spot to cook in the Pacific Regional Final of the 2026 San Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Competition in Milan.
From working in a local café at 13 to becoming fully qualified at 17, Musgrave quickly rose in the state’s cooking ranks, working internationally in fine dining and leading the high-profile Restaurant Botanic at just 27 years old.
Musgrave joined Adelaide Botanic Garden’s Restaurant Botanic in 2021, and has previously worked at high-profile restaurants such as Vasse Felix, Rockpool Bar and Grill, and Hong Kong’s One Star House Party.
He is the only South Australian to make the cut in the global competition with a signature dish called ‘West Australian Shellfish, a Trip Home’, a homage to his hometown of Margaret River, Western Australia.
Musgrave said the dish, which brings together crystal crab from Albany, Pemberton marron and Shark Bay scallops, was inspired by his childhood Christmas gatherings which always featured seafood.
This signature dish was judged by culinary experts at ALMA, the world-leading international educational and training centre for Italian cuisine.
“The sheer quality and passion displayed by this year’s candidates made the selection process intensely challenging, yet incredibly rewarding,” ALMA’s head of education Matteo Berti said.
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“We eagerly anticipate seeing these talented young chefs bring their unique visions to life during the Regional Finals, and we wish them all the very best.”
Musgrave will go on to cook against Australian and New Zealand chefs from top restaurants at the Sydney Fish Market Seafood School in October for the chance to win.
The winner will represent the Pacific at the Grand Finale in Milan next year.
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