Culinary metal vagabond: CJWDT: Australia'13-14

11/20/13-12/2/13: Melbourne,Austraia

12/2/13-12/8/13: Sydney

12/8/13-12/12/13: Canberra

12/12/13-1/14/14: Brisbane

1/14/14-2/10/14: Sydney

2/27/14-???: Sydney

So.... this post is reporting my latest situation.... Start with.... I'm in Auckland, New Zealand right now!! I just arrived this Monday. And... as I indicated above, right before I have been in Australia for nearly 3 months, It was my fourth visit and last visit was CJWDT'10. Some restaurant opening & closing, but culinary scene seems getting better N' stronger every year. On the other hand, last September the immigration law was changed and getting visa is harder than used to be. From my impression, many restaurants seems not willing to sponsor the visa unfortunately. Some say I need to work for 3 months before sponsorship, some say I need to pay all the cost by myself which start off 3500(just by application, could cost double with the agent)

I started working on my job-hunting mid November, I did some interviews, trials and do my tasting in four different cities. In 3 months I had 5 job offers as chef de partie, sous-chef and head chef in different setting. There was other restaurants I was talking to, but I didn't set up the trial since the jobs seem not working out for me by different reasons.

Eventually I declined all 5 job offers and I decided to carry on my job search. And.... time was up, I came to Auckland...... that's where I am right now. I've been looking for my job worldwide with pretty clear vision. It's not about where I work & how many stars, about what I can learn and if the job must connect to my future which is opening restaurant P.S.I. I go ANYWHERE, but I want what I want, that's how it has been and make me who I am. All I can say is the job-hunting is about hugely rely on luck & timing, least in my opinion. This time I had no luck.

I surly know I need to compromise certain amount, but same time I can't force me to take some job if I'm not 100% into it, just by it's in Australia. ....... ANYWAY I already have the ticket to fly back from Auckland to Sydney on Feb 27th for final fight. Budget-wise & mentally I'm at the edge, so I don't think I would stay more than one month. But I'll give my last shout on March and.... just see what happens with best wishes.

So... anyway I linked all the informations I gathered for Australia down below. I could say this is the ultimate informative guide for chef job-hunting in OZ!!! This is for my personal record & useful future reference for culinary nomads who is interested in moving / working holiday in best country in the world(for me)..... Check it out!!!!

Melbourne restaurants:
http://hareandgrace.com/
http://www.vuedemonde.com.au/
http://www.cutlerandco.com.au/
http://www.thetownmouse.com.au/
http://www.saintcrispin.com.au/
http://www.puresouth.com.au/html/Home-T63.aspx
http://www.circa.com.au/
http://www.jacquesreymond.com.au/
http://www.ezard.com.au/
http://www.estellebarkitchen.com.au/index.php
http://www.crownmelbourne.com.au/no-8
http://www.no35.com.au/

http://eureka89.com.au/

http://www.woodlandhouse.com.au/about

Sydney restaurants:

http://merivale.com.au/

http://momofuku.com/sydney/seiobo/

http://www.quay.com.au/

http://www.marquerestaurant.com.au/

http://www.sepiarestaurant.com.au/

http://www.ritualcuisine.com.au/

http://www.thebentley.com.au/

http://guillaumeatbennelong.com.au/

http://www.thebridgeroom.com.au/

http://www.glassbrasserie.com.au/

http://www.caveau.com.au/

http://www.wildfiresydney.com/#

http://www.ariarestaurant.com/sydney

http://www.ashcrofts.com/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Graze/121619774559091

http://www.biotadining.com/

http://www.onesixeightrestaurant.com.au/

http://restaurantnomad.com.au/#start

http://www.restaurantarras.com.au/index.html

Adelaide restaurants:

http://www.celsiusrestaurant.com.au/

http://restaurantorana.com/

https://www.facebook.com/restaurantoranaadelaide

Brisbane restaurants:

http://esquire.net.au/esquire/

http://urbanerestaurant.com

Canberra restaurants:

http://www.aubergine.com.au/

http://www.sagerestaurant.net.au/

http://www.boathousebythelake.com.au/restaurant.html
http://www.eat-86.com/

Perth restaurants:

http://theaussiebite.blogspot.com.au/2012/11/balthazar-perth.html

http://www.co-opdining.com.au

http://www.restaurantamuse.com.au/index.php?page=gallery

http://www.jacksonsrestaurant.com.au/

http://redcabbagefoodandwine.com.au/

http://www.opusrestaurant.com.au/

http://www.galarestaurant.com.au/

http://www.petitemort.com.au/

Online job search web links:

http://www.seek.com.au/jobs/in-australia/#dateRange=999&workType=0&industry=&occupation=&graduateSearch=false&salaryFrom=0&salaryTo=999999&salaryType=annual&advertiserID=&advertiserGroup=&keywords=head+chef&page=1&isAreaUnspecified=false&location=&area=&nation=3000&sortMode=KeywordRelevance&searchFrom=quick&searchType=

http://www.jobseeker.com.au/j?l=&q=head+chef&since=lv

http://www.simplyhired.com.au/search?q=head+chef&sb=ddv

http://www.careerjet.com.au/search/jobs?s=head+chef&l=&sort=date

http://www.alljobs.com.au/?q=head+chef+&l=&_s=1&sort=date

http://www.jobx.com.au/advancedSearch.aspx?widgetSearch=1&keywords=Head%20Chef&professionID=8213&roleID=8217

http://jobs.austculinary.com.au/jobseeker/search/results/?t730=&t731=245741&t1841=245792&t735=&max=25&site_id=12712&search=

http://www.adzuna.com.au/search?loc=105392&pp=25&sb=date&sd=down&q=head%20chef

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-jobs/head+chef/k0c9302?ad=offering

http://www.recruitachef.com.au/jobs.html
http://mycareer.com.au/search/?s=777&q=sous+chef&sf=3&sq=sous+chef

Culinary web links:

http://www.agfg.com.au/guide/awards/

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/executive-living/food-drink/restaurants/hot-50-restaurants-2013

http://www.goodfood.com.au/good-food/food-news/the-sydney-morning-herald-good-food-guide-2014-the-hats-20130902-2szy7.html

http://www.bestrestaurants.com.au/sydney/award-winning-hatted -restaurants.aspx

http://www.gourmettraveller.com.au/events/restaurant-awards/2013/8/2014-gourmet-traveller-restaurant-awards-winners/regional-restaurant-of-the-year/

http://www.gourmettraveller.com.au/restaurants/restaurant-guide/#range=top-100;restaurantAddressState=VIC|0
http://www.goodfood.com.au/good-food/food-news/the-age-good-food-guide-2014-the-hats-20130826-2sl9i.html
http://www.goodfood.com.au/good-food/top-10/eat-out
http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/restaurants-and-bars/goodfoodguide2013
http://www.restaurantcater.asn.au/index.php?tgtPage=excellence

http://www.lifestylefood.com.au/ilovefoodawards/winners.aspx
http://www.au.timeout.com/melbourne/restaurants/features/2918/time-out-food-awards-2013-best-new-restaurant
http://eater.com/archives/2013/10/02/the-eater-melbourne-heatmap-where-to-eat-right-now-1.php
http://thecitylane.com/melbourne-dining-guide-2012/
http://www.broadsheet.com.au/melbourne/food

http://sydney.concreteplayground.com.au/restaurants/

http://www.melbournerestaurants.com.au

http://www.goodfood.com.au/good-food/top-10-eat-out/aggregate/canberra-times-top-20-for-2013-20131203-2ynvy.html

http://www.westernaustralia.com/en/Things_to_See_and_Do/Food_and_Wine/Pages/Perth_Good_Food_Guide_and_Chic_Eats.aspx

http://www.toptenperth.com.au/perth-top-ten-restaurants.html

Useful culinary blog links:
http://www.melbournegastronome.com/
http://melbournepatron.blogspot.sg/

http://www.spatulaspoonandsaturday.com/
http://grabyourfork.blogspot.com/
http://1001dinners.blogspot.com/
http://www.bnehotornot.com/
http://fooderati.blogspot.com
http://www.offthespork.com

Visa/Immigration informations:

http://www.immi.gov.au/Visas/Pages/457.aspx

http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/booklets/books9.pdf

https://www.visafirst.com/en/australian_business_sponsorship_visa_candidates.ashttps://www.acacia-au.com/top-10-changes-to-457-business-sponsorship-July-2013.php

https://myvisa.com.au/457-visa/

http://aom-visa.com/2013/07/2013-7-1-457-change/

http://www.tssimmigration.com.au/

Culinary stores
http://www.chefsarmoury.com/
http://www.redspooncompany.com/

Mobile phone plan:
http://www.plancrunch.com.au/plan/prepaid?filter_type=1&sort=cost

Okay doke...... CJWDT'13..... actually CJWDT'13-14(a bitter smile) Euphoriania grand tour is not over yet!!! Let me hope I get a job in Australia next month!!! At this moment I have one possible stage in Auckland, but no luck on job-hunting@Auckland, urgghhh.... .... Coming up next: Tribute to the past: stage 101-150!!! Culinary metal vagabond ALL OVER THE GLOBE!!