Brian Cole 2024 Winner
Brian Cole, who came up through the likes of Crown Resorts and COMO The Treasury, started his hospitality career at 16 years of age. But even taking into account his years in the hospo trenches Cole’s rise has been impressive, the chef having taken the helm at Hearth, the Ritz Carlton’s signature restaurant, before the age of 30. With fire and smoke at its core and a larder of native ingredients to lean upon, the restaurant caused a sensation when it opened in 2019. Since Cole took the lead in 2021, the Sierra Leone-born chef has maintained the focus on impeccable technique and WA ingredients while perhaps loosening the reins a little. The result is essential dining, led by a chef with even brighter years ahead.
