Culinary Excellence: Peach Srichanklat Crowned Best Culinary Student of 2025, Securing Academia’s Second Year of AusTafe Success!
Since embarking on our culinary competition journey in 2022, Academia has proudly celebrated the remarkable achievements of our students at the AusTafe Victorian Culinary Competition. This year, we are thrilled to announce that Peach (Khathawut) Srichanklat has been named the AusTafe Best Culinary Student of 2025 and crowned the Victorian Champion! By following in the footsteps of fellow Academia student and last year’s winner, Eddie (Wen Peng) Chang, Peach has ensured Academia once again holds the honour of educating Victoria’s top culinary student, for the second year running. We are immensely proud of his accomplishments, which serve as a testament to the unwavering excellence and dedication we embody at Academia.
Why Academia Consistently Outperforms Other Culinary Schools in Competitive Success
At Academia, our students go beyond learning recipes; they develop real-world culinary expertise, confidence under pressure, and the creative spark that turns our culinary students into champions. Under the guidance of our expert trainers who bring decades of industry knowledge into the classroom and kitchens, our students are prepared to compete (and win!) at the highest level.
Our Culinary Program is designed to cover every aspect of culinary technique, including:
- Advanced culinary techniques and theoretical learning
- Intensive hands-on training in our on-campus commercial kitchens
- Teamwork, organisation and how to perform under pressure – because a calm chef is a successful chef
We merge essential techniques with personal growth, helping students excel in competitions and beyond.
The Competition: AusTafe at William Angliss Institute
The journey to the Aus Tafe Culinary Competition was a testament to the dedication and hard work of our students and trainers. The training for the AusTafe competition focused on refining our students’ theoretical and practical skills, including a masterclass on emotional intelligence. We aim for excellence, empowering our students to confidently showcase their talents on competitive stages and achieve greatness.
The AusTafe Culinary Competition, hosted at William Angliss Institute, showcased the talent of 34 exceptional culinary students competing for the coveted title of ‘Best Culinary Student in Victoria’. Representing prestigious institutions including William Angliss, Le Cordon Bleu, Academia, and other leading culinary schools in Victoria, the competition highlighted the depth of skill and creativity emerging from Victoria’s top cookery schools.
Highlights from Peach’s Winning Menu:
- Entree ‘Yum Yai Chicken’ – A contemporary reimagining of the traditional Thai mixed salad with coconut poached chicken and an aromatic herbal dressing.
- Main ‘Tom Kha Gai 2.0’ – a modern interpretation of the classic Thai soup Tom Kha Gai featuring chicken mousse wrapped in zucchini, infused in a velvety coconut broth simmered with galangal, lemongrass, and kaffir lime leaves. The dish is complemented with confit green tomatoes and coconut-poached shallots, offering depth and natural sweetness and finished with lime leaf oil for a fresh herbal aroma, with chive potato sponge cake and seasonal vegetables.
Peach’s exceptional skills earned him the top honour, naming him the Victorian Champion and the AusTafe Best Culinary Student of 2025.
In a remarkable display of talent, his teammate Queenie Manuel elevated the competition with her skills. Earning the Silver Medal and was named Runner-Up, finishing in second place with a score slightly lower than Peach. Queenie’s exceptional results highlight the depth of knowledge and talent flourishing in Academia’s commercial cookery program.
Next Step: National Finals
The journey isn’t over yet. Peach is now heading to the National Finals, representing Victoria with innovation, skill, and strong support from Academia’s trainers.
You Could Be Our Next Champion! Enquire Now & Start Your Journey to Success!
Dreaming of studying at one of Australia’s top culinary institutes? Curious about commercial cookery training?
At Academia, you’ll develop essential skills, build confidence, and gain a competitive edge, including:
- Expert training and guidance from trainers with decades of culinary experience
- A blend of theoretical knowledge and hands-on practical training right in our state-of-the-art commercial kitchens.
- Work placement organised by us at one of Melbourne’s and Brisbane’s finest 5-star hotels, allowing you to train under acclaimed chefs and acquire invaluable industry experience that will truly set you apart in the job market.
- Training that prepares you for competitions, careers, and beyond
Join us at Academia and step into a world of culinary excellence!
Ready to take the next step? Reach out to our friendly course advisors by filling out the enquiry form today and start your journey with a stellar commercial cookery program.
