Alfan Musthafa, head chef and co-owner of Warisan in Fortitude Valley, has been named Queensland Professional Chef of the Year 2025 following a nail-biting finale at Food & Hospitality Queensland over the weekend.
The prestigious title was decided by just one point, according to head judge Jamie Gannon, after Musthafa competed against three other finalists in an indigenous round that challenged chefs to incorporate native Australian ingredients into their dishes.
Musthafa’s winning menu featured a whiting carpaccio with orange nam jim, caramelised fig, finger lime and wattle seed, followed by grilled marinated wagyu beef rump with lemon myrtle, butternut purée, crispy lion’s mane mushrooms, zucchini flower and mountain pepper.
“The way Chef Alfan brought his Indonesian heritage and treated it with Indigenous flavours – it was absolutely genius,” said Gannon, culinary director of The Good Plate and a former Queensland Chef of the Year winner. “He used his strengths with the ingredients we gave him and nailed it.”
The live competition, held at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre during the state’s largest foodservice trade show, saw 24 of Queensland’s top chefs compete over two days in a high-pressure kitchen environment.
Gannon, who has judged the competition for five years, said this year’s standard was exceptional. “The calibre and quality of the four finalists are the best that I’ve seen in the five years I’ve been judging this competition,” he said.
Joining Musthafa in the finals were Ha Chul Sung from Moo Moo the Wine Bar and Grill Brisbane, Dino Ng from Rydges Southbank, and Grant Parry from Cucino Vivo.
For Musthafa, the win represents a validation of his culinary philosophy centred on cultural connection and authenticity.
“My cooking is inspired by my desire to create connections through food,” he said. “I believe that meals bring people together, and I strive to create dishes that not only taste good but also evoke emotions and memories.”
The chef credited his culinary influences to his cultural heritage, with traditional cooking methods and family recipes instilling “a deep respect for authenticity and the importance of preserving culinary traditions.”
Now in its 10th year, the Queensland Chef of the Year competition is regarded as one of Australia’s most respected live cooking events, providing chefs across the state a platform to showcase their skills and connect with industry peers.
Gannon was joined by fellow judges Carolyne Helmy, Spencer Patrick and Claire Van Vuuren – plus guest judges Tobie Puttock and Chris Jordan.
The 2025 competition was supported by Cookers Bulk Oil, Krio Krush, Birch & Waite, Stanbroke, Australian Avocados, Unox, Alsco Uniforms and Horecano.
