Leslie Whippy jun, who has 16 years in the industry, has been at the lodge's Picasso's restaurant for seven months and recently returned from the New Zealand Chef of the Year competitions with a bronze medal - making him the country's third-best chef and the toast of the establishment.
Mr Whippy (34) is from Fiji and worked in that country for most of his career, at some of the finest restaurants, as well as a two-year role preparing in-flight meals for its national air carrier.
He arrived in New Zealand in 2005 to become head chef at a Picton restaurant and stayed there until moving to South Otago to join the Clutha Licensing Trust.
Mr Whippy was one of 10 chefs chosen to compete in the New Zealand Chef of the Year event in Auckland, where they were tested over three days of competition, preparing a variety of specialty mains and desserts for the judging panel.
Winning a bronze medal was one of the greatest thrills of his career, he said yesterday.
He was looking forward to taking part in next year's competition.
Mr Whippy has won several medals in his career, including first place in a major competition in Marlborough three years ago.
Earlier this year, he won a silver and bronze medal in the Southern light salon culinaire competitions in Dunedin.
