What a great afternoon of fun, energy, and a bit of chaos (the good kind).
This challenge was all about flipping the script — giving our chefs the task of teaching someone unfamiliar with the kitchen how to cook, using only written instructions and miming. No stepping in, no taking over — just communication, patience, and leadership.
At the same time, it gave our FOH team a real insight into the pressures of the kitchen — timing, multitasking, and the importance of clear communication under pressure. Safe to say, there’s a new level of respect across both sides of the pass after this one.
⚡ The Energy
The energy was unreal from the start.
Sienna and Molly were clearly the most nervous (in the best way), with Sienna even rocking a chef’s jacket to fully commit to the role — you love to see it.
🏅 The Results
4th Place – Young & Jackson (146 points)
Nick and Sean came out with great communication early, backed by strong motivation from their captain Trent… but that’s where it plateaued.
Nerves may have crept in — Sean jumped the gun early, leaving his schnitzel in the fryer a little too long (extra crispy was not the brief). Instructions weren’t fully followed, with chips and salad being pushed too early, leading to penalties.
A missed opportunity on presentation and judges’ bonus points hurt them here. A decent parma — just not a great one.
3rd Place – The Espy (203.5 points)
Missing out on second by just half a point, Sarjeena and Sienna were a fantastic team.
They listened well, stayed composed, and Sarjeena in particular was outstanding in how she communicated and settled the nerves. The parma itself was hot, juicy, and well executed.
The only thing holding them back was the salad — a bit too much dressing and not enough mixing, leaving clumps of carrot. So close.
2nd Place – The Corner (204 points)
Ben and Molly delivered a very strong performance.
Ben’s calm approach really helped settle Molly early, and they stayed composed throughout. A few points dropped for talking, but they made up for it with initiative — even offering gravy and cutlery at the end.
The parma was excellent, chips just needed a touch longer and a bit more seasoning to take it to the next level.
🥇 1st Place – The Tote (229.5 points incl. bonus)
Zara and Lily — the youngest team in the comp — absolutely stole the show.
Scoring 209.5 points plus a 20 point bonus, they delivered what was judged as a perfect parma. Calm, composed, and executed with confidence well beyond their years.
They missed out on training points due to being a late entry… but clearly didn’t need them.
👏 Final Thoughts
This is exactly what The Grand is about — teamwork, learning, stepping outside your comfort zone, and having a bit of fun along the way.
Huge credit to everyone who got involved. Whether you were cooking, teaching, or just watching — there was something in it for everyone.
And if nothing else… there’s now a whole new respect between FOH and BOH.
Exactly what we wanted — energy, buy-in, a bit of chaos, and teams starting to take real ownership of their areas. This comp is already doing what it’s meant to do.
👀 WHAT IS THE HOUSE CUP?
For our guests — here’s what you’re seeing around the venue:
We’ve split our team into four houses, each representing iconic Melbourne pubs:
🟡 Young & Jackson 🔵 The Corner 🔴The Espy 🟢 The Tote
Each staff member is part of a team (you’ll see their coloured House badge) and every week they compete in challenges, while also earning points through:
Great service
Teamwork
Cleanliness & presentation
Selling specials
Helping other departments
👉 At the end, one team is crowned House Cup Champions
🍻 WHY WE’RE DOING IT
Simple — to make your experience better.
This comp is designed to:
Lift energy across the venue
Get staff working together across all areas
Improve speed, communication, and service
Create a fun, competitive atmosphere
You’ll notice:
More engagement from staff
Better attention to detail
Teams taking pride in their sections
🎖️ WHAT THE BADGES MEAN
Each staff member wears a coloured badge showing their team
House Captains lead each group
Points are tracked weekly
Teams are constantly trying to outdo each other
👉 Feel free to ask your server what team they’re in — and who’s winning 👀
🍻 WEEK 1 CHALLENGE – POURING COMP
We kicked things off with a beer pouring challenge across three rounds:
Standard Pour (precision)
Speed Round (controlled chaos 😅)
Blindfolded Challenge (teamwork under pressure)
Plenty of laughs, a few spills… and even a disqualification (unlucky Kane 😂)
📊 WEEK 1 LEADERBOARD
🥇 🔵 The Corner – 174 pts 🥈 🟡Young & Jackson – 122 pts 🥉 🔴 The Espy – 83 pts 4️⃣ 🟢 The Tote – 50 pts
Here’s the official April Parma of the Month — Dan Dan Chicken Parma 🍗 Crispy chicken schnitzel topped with mozzarella, Sichuan spiced pork, crunchy rice noodles & spring onion.
Hop into Easter weekend with a little indulgence 😏🐣🍫 Our Chocolate Espresso Martini — vodka, crème de cacao, espresso & chocolate Baileys — is the perfect treat to celebrate the long weekend 🍸✨ Who’s ready for a cheeky Easter sip?
Meet the Smashed Avo Parma — our Grand Parma topped with smashed avo, Danish feta, a perfectly poached egg, fresh parsley and a drizzle of lemon oil.
Brunch meets pub classic… and we’re not mad about it.
Even better — $1 from every Smashed Avo Parma sold will be donated to the Royal Children’s Hospital, as part of our Friday Night Meat Raffle fundraising.
Eat well and support a great cause at the same time.
