FIJIAN chefs Isireli David Chong and Filipe Miramira have won gold at the Australian Culinary Federation Restaurant Challenge in Melbourne, delivering another international achievement for Fiji’s hospitality industry.
Chong, Chef de Partie at Club Wyndham Denarau Island, teamed up with Miramira of Yasawa Island Resort in the Team Challenge Category 2 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
They competed against 12 teams from across the region, securing the top award after preparing and presenting a three-course menu under strict competition conditions.
Teams were required to produce a vegetarian entrée, lamb loin main course and coconut purini with nuts for dessert. They had three hours to prepare and plate four servings of each course.
Club Wyndham Denarau Island Resort Manager Craig Simpson said the achievement demonstrated the strength of Fiji’s culinary sector.
“Chef Isireli and Chef Filipe’s gold medal victory highlights the depth of culinary talent within Fiji’s hospitality industry,” Simpson said.
“We are exceptionally proud of Chef Isireli for his outstanding efforts and remarkable talent. His success is a proud achievement for Fiji and an inspiration to aspiring chefs across the Pacific.”
The medal adds to Chong’s growing list of culinary achievements. In 2025, he was named Chef of the Year at the Fiji Chefs National Salon Culinaire Competition, where he represented Club Wyndham Denarau Island.
Born in Tailevu and raised in Naceva, Chong developed an interest in cooking from an early age, influenced by his father and aunt.
His career has included positions at hotels and resorts around Fiji before he joined Club Wyndham Denarau Island as a pastry chef in 2017.
Chong later moved to Vanuatu, serving as Executive Chef at Nasama Resort, before returning to Fiji and rejoining Club Wyndham Denarau Island.
His latest medal places him among Fijian chefs gaining recognition through regional and international culinary competitions.
