maze Melbourne

Josh Emett

Brought up on a farm outside Hamilton in New Zealand, Josh Emett discovered his passion for cooking as a child. His family spent much of their time working on the farm so he began cooking out of necessity.

After finishing his schooling Josh trained at Waikato Polytechnic in Hamilton and honed his skills at several fine New Zealand restaurants, including Cin Cin on Quay in Auckland, before moving to Australia. He worked under Donovan Cooke for three years at est est est, which at the time was one of Melbourne’s most highly regarded restaurants.

In 1999, Josh left Melbourne for the south of France to work as a chef on luxury yachts and save money for his next move, to London.

In London in 2000 he was offered his first position with Gordon Ramsay. He joined Restaurant Gordon Ramsay in Chelsea as Senior Chef de Partie and quickly worked his way up the ranks in the kitchen. In his first year the restaurant was awarded three Michelin stars, making it the only three-star restaurant in London.

In 2001, Josh was transferred to work under Head Chef Mark Sargeant for the launch of the critically acclaimed Gordon Ramsay at Claridge's.

Josh’s accomplished technique and passion for combining only the best ingredients led him to join Chef Patron Marcus Wareing as Head Chef at the reopened The Savoy Grill in 2003, following a refurbishment by American designer Barbara Barry. There Josh continued to win over the critics with a solid menu at the grand yet understated British restaurant. In January 2004, Josh and Marcus’s efforts were rewarded when The Savoy Grill won a Michelin star, its first in more than 100 years of operation.

In late 2006, Josh moved to the United States to oversee Gordon Ramsay at The London NYC and later Gordon Ramsay at The London West Hollywood. Within his first year, Gordon Ramsay at The London NYC was awarded two Michelin stars and Gordon Ramsay at The London West Hollywood one Michelin star. Josh continues to receive exceptional reviews for his cooking in both the American and British press. He was also named New York Rising Star Chef in 2008.

He relocated to Melbourne in January 2010 with responsibility for opening Gordon Ramsay’s first two restaurants in Australia – maze and maze Grill – which are situated in Crown’s newest hotel, Crown Metropol. He oversees the hotel’s in-room dining service and the spa menu.

Outside the kitchen, Josh is an avid sportsman. Like Gordon, he believes physical fitness contributes to his performance in the kitchen. He credits running and tennis for keeping him in shape. He also enjoys hunting, fishing, and travelling.