The annual The Hunter Culinary Association Food Fight returns in 2026

Four of the Hunter's most celebrated chefs return for a landmark Anniversary Edition of the Hunter Valley's premier culinary showdown - the Hunter Culinary Association - Food Fight.

An exceptional all local line-up has been announced in what is the 20th anniversary year of the Food Fight event, reuniting four chefs whose combined appearances have defined the competition across the 15 years of the event.

Michael Robinson, Tim Montgomery, Chris Thornton and Troy Rhoades-Brown (pictured below L-R) - names that have drawn some of the event's most passionate responses - will come together for what promises to be the most storied Food Fight yet. Between them, they have competed across 14 editions of the event, bringing regional and international pedigree to a lunch that celebrates the best of Hunter Valley food culture.

"Fifteen years of the HCA Food Fight and twenty of the Association is a genuine milestone for this region. Bringing back these four chefs is our way of honouring the people who helped shape the region and the event - and giving our guests this year such a legendary event" Gus Maher, Chairman, Hunter Culinary Association

Meet the Chefs

Troy Rhoades-Brown
Food Fighter: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016
Troy Rhoades-Brown began cooking at sixteen in Newcastle before training under the influential Robert Molines at Robert's Restaurant in the Hunter Valley. A Brett Graham Scholarship took him to The Ledbury in London, a formative experience that helped shape the restaurant he would build on his return. Muse opened in Pokolbin in 2009 and has since become one of regional Australia's most celebrated dining destinations, holding two SMH Good Food Guide Chef's Hats continuously since 2015. Troy has also been recognised as the Appetite for Excellence National Young Restaurateur and Delicious Magazine's National Next Gen Chef - making him among the most decorated restaurateurs the Hunter has produced.

Chris Thornton
Food Fighter: 2016
Newcastle-raised Chris Thornton trained under Peter Bryant at hatted Restaurant II before a Brett Graham Scholarship took him to The Ledbury in London, where he stayed on to work alongside Brett Graham for several years. Back in Australia, he co-founded Restaurant Mason with wife Ami in 2011 - a restaurant that earned multiple SMH Chef's Hats and the Electrolux Young Restaurateur of the Year award across an eleven-year run. Widely regarded as one of the Hunter region's most respected culinary figures, Thornton returns to the Food Fight stage with plenty still to say.

Tim Montgomery
Food Fighter: 2011, 2012
Tim Montgomery's culinary foundations were laid in Adelaide before he moved to Sydney to train under Serge Dansereau at The Bathers Pavilion, followed by stints in Switzerland and London that honed a distinctly European sensibility. As Executive Chef at Adelaide's The Manse and Newcastle's Bacchus - both Gourmet Traveller Top 100 restaurants - he became a transformative figure in both cities' fine dining scenes. Later work at Berardos in Noosa saw the restaurant reclaim its Chef Hat in The Good Food Guide. From multi-hatted fine dining to bold casual concepts, Montgomery remains one of Newcastle's most prolific and versatile culinary forces.

Michael Robinson
Food Fighter: 2013, 2014, 2015
Michael Robinson built his foundations at The Bathers Pavilion in Sydney before heading overseas to La Trompette in London and Ortolan in Los Angeles. Returning to Australia, he spent five years as joint Head Chef at the two-hatted Becasse under Justin North. The Hunter Valley drew him next, with three years at Margan Restaurant before a move that surprised the industry - taking over a butchery in Branxton and building a whole-carcass shop rooted in ethical sourcing, dry ageing, curing, and deep relationships with local producers. Robinson brings fifteen years of kitchen knowledge and a genuine farm-to-plate philosophy back to the Food Fight stage.

On the Microphone

Popular Hit 106.9FM presenter Jess Farchione will lead the night as host, joined by an all-star MC team that keeps the Food Fight firmly in the family: Justin North (Food Fighter 2012, 2016), Colin Fassnidge (Food Fighter 2012) and Matt Kemp (Food Fighter 2012).

Group Dining and Auction Packages

This year's Food Fight will feature an expanded auction with a strong emphasis on group dining experiences - consistently among the most popular and hotly contested lots. Guests are encouraged to start assembling their syndicates early. Full auction listings will be announced in the lead-up to the event.

HCA Food Fight - 20th Anniversary Edition

Date: Tuesday 16 June 2026
Venue: Rydges Hunter Valley
Tickets: Limited seats remain at hunterculinary.com.au