The Adelaide Convention Centre's Chef de Partie in pastry - 28 year-old Melanie Gowers - was the "highly commended" runner-up in this year's Lexus Young Chef of the Year Award.
And, according to co-founder of the award program, Lucy Allon, the judges had such a difficult time choosing between the two top contenders, they asked sponsors to put together a special package of prizes to recognise Melanie's talent.
"Mel really impressed the judges," said Lucy, who established the awards in 2005 with her partner Luke Mangan, Executive Chef at Glass in the Sydney Hilton. "She's very knowledgeable and passionate about food and there's no doubt she's going to go a long way."
Some of Australia's most respected chefs were on the judging panel, including Sydney-based Tetsuya Wakuda and Melbourne's Guy Grossi.
Melanie first won the South Australian round of the competition, which was judged by master chef Cheong Liew of the Adelaide Hilton's The Grange Restaurant. She then went to Sydney for the national finals, where she and six competitors were given three hours to prepare three courses.
The entrée and main course were produced from a mystery box of ingredients (including pork belly and salmon sashimi), and the set dessert was a 'Oeuf a la niege', known as a Floating Island.
Melanie started at the Convention Centre as a casual and finished her apprenticeship early in 2005.
The Lexus award was not her first culinary victory. Last year she was the Australian winner of the La Chaine Des Rotisseurs culinary competition for young chefs.
As a reward for her achievements, the Convention Centre sent her to France for two weeks of work experience at jean Pierre Cazal's 1½ Michelin star restaurant in Port Carmargue. She had to make a flying visit from there in July for the Lexus awards presentation.
The prizes for her latest success include stints of work experience in one of Richard Branson's Virgin Group luxury resorts - in either Morocco, South Africa or the Bahamas - and a week, at home, with Cheong Liew at The Grange.
Further information: Sue Hocking, Director, Sales & Marketing, Adelaide Convention Centre, ph +61 8 82124099, email: sales@adelaidecc.com.au
