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Sydney’s Female Chefs to Celebrate this International Women’s Day
Get out there and support Sydney's best female chefs this month (and beyond!)
Sydney’s restaurant scene has never been better. With a swathe of new openings and continued excellence from some of the best restaurants in town, there’s more choice than ever. But the best news? The number of female chefs in Sydney is growing and they’re all up to some pretty incredible things. Keen to support the gals next time you head out? Read on to discover some of the best female chefs in Sydney right now.
Rhiann Mead, The Charles
For anyone who has had the pleasure of selecting treats from The Charles Grand Brasserie & Bar’s iconic dessert trolley, you’ve got Rhian Mead to thank. As Head Pastry Chef, Rhian is the brains behind the trolley with full creative control over the daily bakes. But how did a small-town Queensland gal end up a skilled chocolatier and patisserie? Rhiann credits her love of pastry to finding joy in precision and details as well as the scope for creativity (and her gap year working in London’s Harrods Food Hall). Swing by The Charles for a taste of Rhiann’s exquisite Russian honey cakes and other delicate treats.
You can also find Rhiann’s bakes at Genzo, Soluna and Sol Bread & Wine.
Find Rhiann at The Charles Grand Brasserie & Bar
66 King Street, Sydney
Daeun Kang, Oborozuki
From her family’s South Korean noodle shop to her appointment as the first female Head Chef at Sydney fine diner Oborozuki, Daeun Kang’s life has been a food-focussed global odyssey. Aside from crafting meticulous French Japanese fusion dishes at Oborozuki, Kang has a passion for fostering inclusivity in a traditionally male-dominated industry. “When I first started, it was rare to see female chefs in leadership roles. But the tide is changing, and I want to be part of that transformation,” Kang says. “By championing an inclusive culture, we open doors for more women to step into these positions.”
Kang’s heavily seasonal menu is an absolute delight with a standout being Kang’s Glacier 51 Toothfish. As a finalist for Best NSW Chef of the Year award by Good Food, you’ll want to keep an eye on this chef!
Find Daeun at Oborozuki
71 Macquarie Street, Sydney
Amber Doig, The Butler Potts Point
Amber Doig has been pursuing her career as a chef since the age of 17 when she came over from Christchurch to settle in Sydney. She gained early experience working under one of Australia’s most respected young restaurateurs and chefs, James Viles and gone from strength to strength, travelling to New York and training under superstar Alex Stupak to learn to cook Mexican/Ibero-American cuisine. All these skills she brought back to The Butler in Potts Point as Head Chef for the last 7 years. Swing by to sample Amber’s 12-hour braised lamb barbacoa, confit duck carnitas and iconic butterflied NZ pink snapper divorciados.
Find Amber at The Butler
123 Victoria Street, Potts Point
Lauren McKenna, The Log Cabin
Lauren McKenna’s career has been informed by her lifelong love of cooking and learning as well as her Italian heritage. Building up an enviable CV, Lauren has mastered the art of Italian cuisine and pastry at Otto, discovered degustation with her tenure at EST and built on her seafood skills at The Boathouse Blackwattle Bay. Settled as Head Chef at The Log Cabin in Penrith, Lauren’s values of warmth and welcoming don’t just abound in her menu choices but in her kitchen, too. Known for running a kitchen in which work-life balance is championed and a sense of community fostered, it’s not just McKenna’s food that stands out.
Find Lauren at The Log Cabin
16 Memorial Avenue, Penrith
If you loved this edit of the best female chefs in Sydney and are keen to find more restaurants to hit up around Sydney, be sure to check out our edits of the best Italian restaurants and the best French restaurants in town.
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