Biography

Andrew started his career as an apprentice at Metrolopois Café in Hamilton New Zealand. After a few years of misspent youth, he found a more positive avenue to channel his energies and took to the kitchen like a duck to water.

Andrew is currently the owner and chef of Simmer Culinary, a diverse hospitality company based on the Mornington Peninsula, that prides itself on providing a personalised paddock to plate dining experience. Food ethics and politics form the cornerstone of how the business is conducted. Simmer Culinary oversees the “Gastronomique Development Kitchen”, a cookery competition training kitchen where he trains chefs to compete at the highest level of the culinary arts.

Andrew is the current Captain for the Australian Culinary Olympic team. Heading up the team to achieve a Bronze and Silver medal in 2024 they are no aiming to achieve great things in 2028   

Andrew received a 5th place in the world finals of the Global chef challenge in 2024 with commis chef Jessica Roe by his side,

As a part of this role Andrew was also awarded winner of  the Australian Professional Chef of the Year 2021. 

Currently Andrew holds the position of Executive chef, for the Osaka world expo 2025 Australian Pavilion.

As well as the above achievements Andrew has begun his journey, opening Provenance By Andrew Ballard which will also be based on the Mornington Peninsula.  

Simmer Culinary mangers and operates all major kitchen operations for such amazing events as Taste of Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Darwin, Good Food & Wine Show in all of the major cities. This challenging roll keeps Andrew and the team on the road 20 weeks of the year.

In what little spare time Andrew has, he is an avid food forager, spending many hours hunting in the Victorian bush, or found tending to his humble vegetable patch.

2025

(currently in training)  Captain team Australia - Culinary Olympics

2025

Executive chef, Asustralian pavilion Osaka work Expo

2024

Global chefs Challenge world final 5th place

Captain team Australia - Culinary Olympics / Silver and bronze medals

2023

Captain Team Austraia - Culinary World Cup / Bronze medal 

2021

Australian Professional Chef of The Year, Winner

2019

Australia's most outstanding Chef, Winner

2018

Australia's most outstanding Chef, Winner

Food Hotel China: Asian Culinary Cup – Winner Gold Medal 

Asia Pacific Bocuse D’or finals Goung Zhou China

2017

New Zealand Bocuse D’Or – WINNER of selection

2016

• Australian culinary challenge “Most Outstanding Chef”

2015

Battle of the Pacific / Australian culinary challenge – Silver medal

2012 

Runner up 2nd place Australian National “Bocuse D’Or” competition