COOPER THOMAS
FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE CHEF
I am passionate about creating restaurant quality dining experiences for people in unimaginable locations such as waterfalls, mountain tops, lookouts, sand dunes, ski fields & desserts. This is my personal mission!
- COOPER THOMAS
Hey there, my name is Cooper and I’m the person behind The Wilderness Chef.
I call Newcastle (NSW, Australia) home, so you’ll find me catering regularly in the Hunter Valley, Nelson Bay, Sydney and Blue Mountains areas but it doesn’t stop there. Not only do I travel interstate on a regular basis, i’ve also travelled internationally on multiple occasions.
As a keen explorer, I am a travelling chef (it's what I do). Be it interstate or international you can count me in..I am ready to broaden my horizons!
You will often find me camping, rock climbing, mountain biking, fishing or foraging for the freshest produce, going for hikes and sitting around the fire.
I am passionate about creating incredible food, produced in a sustainable and ethical manner. I love the idea of removing the ‘middle man’ and sourcing directly from the producer, the one whose blood, sweat and tears are embedded in it. This brings about a mutually rewarding connection between the end-user (you!) and the the producer.
If you like the sounds of this, then let’s chat about your wedding or upcoming event!
“Cooper created and personalised a menu to our tastebuds, whatever we recommended he made it happen in a way that was wholesome and delicious. Our guests after only one dish from Cooper were blown away and were itching for what was to come!!
He designed a menu that I feel I will be craving for years to come and I would 110% recommend him to anyone whom was looking for any sort of catering as I totally believe that Cooper would step up to the plate and create something incredible.”
MEET OUR INCREDIBLE TEAM
Our team comprises of highly skilled and passionate professionals who have extensive expertise in the hospitality, restaurant & catering industry. We operate with a strong business model that emphasises exceptional quality, personalised service, and attention to detail. Currently, we have 4 full-time employees and 15 casual employees who contribute their talents to ensure seamless operations and customer satisfaction.
We are extremely proud to say that we have 100% employee retention and over the last 7 years we have not had any team members leave. We invest time and resources into recruiting the right people for the job, upskilling, building team engagement and building a culture that our team is proud to be a part of.
James Dall, Full-Time Chef
James' boundless energy, creative flair, and infectious enthusiasm for engaging with clients make every dining experience not only delicious but also entertaining and interactive
Jody Barnes, Full-Time Chef
Jodie's warm and caring nature is beautifully reflected in her delightful dishes, and her ever-present smile brings joy to our team and our clients.
Daniel Soans, Full-Time Chef
Daniels' quiet and thoughtful demeanor compliments his exceptional culinary talents, delivering dishes that speak volumes through their exquisite flavours and presentation.
Check out our team doing what they love!
we believe in delivering the best
book us for your next event and find out for yourself
