Australian chefs have proved they are amongst the best in the world having won gold in the 2008 International Culinary Olympics in Germany last Wednesday night.

The Australian Culinary Olympic Team won gold in the hot food category which is the headline event of the three day competition. Teams from eight different countries competed against one another cooking for over 900 people in a restaurant.  

Australia also picked up gold, bronze and sliver on Monday - gold in the pastry section of the competition, silver in the cold buffet category and the bronze for hot food (plated cold).

The International Culinary Olympics are held every four years with 40 national and 20 military teams, scores of regional and private teams and over 2,000 individuals competing to show the rest of the world their cooking skills.

“We are started on a high note and are ecstatic to have won the international country cook offs” said

The Australian youth team also displayed their culinary prowess by winning gold in its category.

Lanzafame, former head chef of Hugo’s restaurant group and Lanzafame in Haberfield, recently opened Lanzafame Trattoria at Star City Hotel and Casino, Sydney.

The Australian team is made up out of the following chefs: Shane Keighley, Neil Abrahams, John Lanzafame, Shannon Kellam, Jenni Key, Matt McBain, Andre Kropp, Daniel Hiltbrunner.