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In Memory of Teague would change the Melbourne food scene.

There are people who cook food, and then there are people who make you feel something. Teage Ezard was firmly in the second camp — a bloke whose plates weren't just meals, they were memories waiting to happen. With his passing, Australia has lost one of its most gifted and genuinely beloved chefs, and the Melbourne dining scene will never quite be the same.

A Room Above Flinders Lane
For those lucky enough to have dined at ezard at the Adelphi Hotel on Flinders Lane, you'll know there was something special about that place from the moment you walked in. Teage and Tina Ezard built more than a restaurant — they built a room where life's big moments found a home. Engagements, anniversaries, birthdays, and the kind of ordinary Tuesday nights that somehow become unforgettable — ezard hosted them all with warmth, elegance, and food that made you go quiet mid-bite.

From its opening through to its closing in 2020, the restaurant stood as a benchmark for what Australian fine dining could be — not stuffy or pretentious, but grounded, soulful, and deeply connected to produce. Teage had an extraordinary ability to marry Asian influences with classical technique in a way that felt both daring and completely natural. His food had a personality. It had his personality.

A Chef of Rare Talent and Heart
Ask any chef who came up in the Melbourne scene during those years and they'll tell you — Teage Ezard was the real deal. He wasn't just talented, he was generous with that talent. He inspired a generation of young cooks not through intimidation, as the industry can sometimes be guilty of, but through an infectious love for the craft. His kitchen was a place where people learned what it meant to really care about food.

He also understood that cooking wasn't about the chef — it was about the people sitting at the table. A dish was only as good as the moment it created. That philosophy showed in everything he did, from the thoughtfulness of his menus to the way ezard made every guest feel like they'd been let in on something special.

The Table We Always Came Back To
For many of us, ezard wasn't just a restaurant — it was a ritual. In the early years of marriages, in the glow of celebrations and milestones, Teage and Tina's table was where we marked the moments that mattered. There's something profound about a place that weaves itself into the fabric of your life like that. You don't just remember what you ate; you remember who you were when you ate it.

For those of us who work in kitchens, dining at ezard was also an education. Every visit left you with something to think about, something to aspire to. Teage had a way of making you appreciate the sheer craft of what a great chef can do — not with showmanship, but with quiet, confident brilliance.

Giving Back: The MasterClass That Changed Lives
Beyond the restaurant, beyond the accolades, what truly set Teage and Tina apart was their deep and genuine commitment to the next generation. They didn't just talk about nurturing young talent — they rolled up their sleeves and did something about it.

Together, they created a special MasterClass for hospitality students — an elegant cocktail party hosted at the restaurant, complete with mocktails and canapes crafted to the same exacting standard as any evening service. Young chefs and waiters were welcomed not as students to be lectured, but as future professionals to be invested in. Teage and Tina hosted the event as an open Q&A, sharing their knowledge, their stories, and their time with a generosity that left every young person in that room standing a little taller.

For those of us who brought a student along that day, the memory is one we will carry always. To watch Teage and Tina engage with young, wide-eyed hospitality students — answering every question with patience, warmth, and genuine enthusiasm — was to see the very best of what our industry can be. He didn't have to give that time. He chose to. And that choice made a difference in more young lives than he ever knew.

What He Left Behind
Teage Ezard's legacy isn't just written in accolades or reviews — though there were plenty of those, and all well earned. It's written in the thousands of meals that people still talk about. In the chefs he mentored who are now running their own kitchens. In the couples who got engaged over his food. In the families who made his restaurant their place.

He was, in the truest sense of the word, a national treasure. Not the sort that gets put behind glass and admired from a distance, but the kind you were lucky enough to actually experience — warm, real, and generously shared with anyone who walked through those doors on Flinders Lane.

To Tina, and to all who loved him — our hearts are with you. Teage, thanks for every plate, every moment, and every young person whose life you touched with your kindness and your craft. You showed us all what it looks like to succeed with grace and give back with an open hand.

— I tip my hat to you, Teage. Rest easy, mate. You fed us well.

~ In loving memory of Teage Ezard ~

Institute of Technical Chefs receives 2025 Oceania award as Best Professional Chefs Association.

I am thrilled to have just received this information from A.I.T.C. President Jeffrey Gear.
This award endorses the efforts of the past and present executives and member of A.I.T.C for steering the organisation to an international level of recognition. Thank you, Jeffrey, no one could have said it better.

“Congratulations to every one of our TChef members — this recognition belongs to all of us.
It is with immense pride and deep respect that I formally congratulate our entire Technical Chef community on being awarded:
Technical Chef – Food & Drink Awards 2025
Best Professional Chef Association 2025 – Oceania

This is an extraordinary accolade and a powerful endorsement of the collective professionalism, integrity, and technical excellence that defines the Australian Institute of Technical Chefs.
This award is not about one individual, one committee, or one initiative. It is recognition of our shared commitment to elevating the standards of our profession across Australia, New Zealand, and the wider Oceania region. Every member—whether working in restaurants, education, aged care, healthcare, hotels, institutions, production kitchens, or industry leadership—has contributed to this achievement.
As Technical Chefs, we stand for:
• Technical excellence and craftsmanship
• Professional ethics and leadership
• Education, mentoring, and skills development
• Advocacy for chefs and cooks at every stage of their career
• Raising the profile and respect of our profession
This award validates the work being done quietly and consistently by chefs who lead kitchens with discipline, care, and pride—often without public recognition. It acknowledges the AITC’s role as a professional voice for technical chefs, and as a trusted body committed to standards, training, and continuous improvement.
I extend my sincere thanks to:
• Our members, for upholding the values of the Institute every day
• Our executive, council, and advisors, for their tireless voluntary service
• Our educators, mentors, and industry partners, who support the next generation of chefs
• And our supporters and collaborators, who believe in the importance of professional chef associations
This achievement should inspire us to continue striving higher—not for awards alone, but for the future of our profession. Let this moment reinforce our shared purpose: to protect the integrity of the craft, to support chefs, and to lead with professionalism, dignity, and excellence.
Once again, congratulations to all TChef members.
This is a proud moment in our history—and one we share together.
With professional respect and culinary pride,
Chef Jeffrey R. Gear
President - Australian Institute of Technical Chefs (A.I.T.C)”

Home - Technical Chefs The mission of the Australian Institute of Technicalchefs is to promote and uphold professional standards for Chefs while fostering a culture of inclusion, and diversity and striving to create a community where chefs of all identities feel welcome and supported in the pursuit of their career goals.

Would like to make you all aware that your new council is up on the Technicalchef.com website.
Please see- about us

Home - Technical Chefs The mission of the Australian Institute of Technicalchefs is to promote and uphold professional standards for Chefs while fostering a culture of inclusion, and diversity and striving to create a community where chefs of all identities feel welcome and supported in the pursuit of their career goals.

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Ocean's Bounty: Seafood Industry insights. Special event to visit the sustainable Aquaculture Industry on the Bellarine Peninsula, especially curated for chefs by chefs.

https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1328972
Chefs of Melbourne Professional development event created for you by regional farming group.
Please investigate as professional development opportunities to enhance your knowledge of Melbournes food bowl.

Paddock to Plate: A Celebration of Deep Creek Valley Produce Join us for a gourmet 5-course lunch showcasing Deep Creek Valley producers (Madelaine’s Eggs, Dreaming Goat Dairy, Wildwood Organics, Source...

https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1328972
Celebration of the produce from the deep creek region for chefs and providors.
Great opportunity for professional development and learning about product from a region close to Melbourne.
On the way to lancefield book now on 50 tickets left…

Paddock to Plate: A Celebration of Deep Creek Valley Produce Join us for a gourmet 5-course lunch showcasing Deep Creek Valley producers (Madelaine’s Eggs, Dreaming Goat Dairy, Wildwood Organics, Source...

Celebrating you on International chefs day we thank you for all your hard work.

Embrace a unique opportunity to connect with a vibrant community of culinary professionals. By joining the Australian Institute of Technical Chefs, you gain access to exclusive resources, industry updates, and professional development through workshops and mentoring. You’ll contribute to setting and upholding high standards in commercial cookery while being part of a collective voice advocating for better industry policies. Elevate your career, gain recognition, and be part of a network that fosters excellence, inclusivity, and collaboration in the culinary world. Email your interest now: [email protected] Visit www.technicalchef.com

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Home - Technical Chefs The mission of the Australian Institute of Technicalchefs is to promote and uphold professional standards for Chefs while fostering a culture of inclusion, and diversity and striving to create a community where chefs of all identities feel welcome and supported in the pursuit of their career goals.