But Prohibition Smokehouse and Vault 21 chef Cole McDonald has managed to work this week without any major incidents, despite the jolt of adrenaline from winning the Junior Global Chef of the Year competition in Melbourne last weekend, and being selected to represent the Pacific region at the 2020 World Association of Chefs Global Young Chefs Challenge in Russia next year.
"It hasn't really sunk in yet.
"I'm still trying to calm down a wee bit."
The result comes after the 23-year-old won the commis chef of the year title at the New Zealand Hospitality Championships in Auckland last year, and gained third place in this year's La Chaine des Rotisseurs New Zealand competition in Wellington.
Despite his significant success so far, he is very humble about his achievements.
"I'm still learning."
Mr McDonald was also part of a team of Dunedin chefs which competed in the Battle of the Pacific competition in Melbourne, and won a gold medal and was runner-up overall in the competition.
Vault 21, Prohibition Smokehouse and Catacombs Nightclub group executive chef Greg Piner said the results showed the "great depth" of chefs in the Otago area.
"We should be over the moon with this."
Mr McDonald said he would now spend the next 12 months preparing and perfecting different dishes for the Global Young Chefs Challenge in St Petersburg, Russia, in July next year.
The competition is part of the World Chefs Congress and Expo.
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Congratulations and well done, keep heading upwards and good luck overseas, Put Dunedin on the Map for all the good reasons . When you get back pass on your knowledge to others, coach and mentor others to follow in your foot steps, Create a following .