The Wilderness Chef

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Charlestown, NSW
The Wilderness Chef

'The Wilderness Chef' provides restaurant quality dining experiences in locations unimaginable!!!

Hey Guys... I'm Cooper Thomas aka 'The Wilderness Chef'...

As ‘The Wilderness Chef,’ I create unique and exclusive dining opportunities in locations unimaginable... I am also the Executive Chef of Newcastle cafe/restaurants 'Talulah Bar’ & ‘Equium Social’. I am passionate about creating incredible food, designed to be enjoyed umongst family & friends in any location imaginable!! I believe in livi

ng life in the most sustainable manner for not only the environment, but also ourselves and those around us. You will often find me camping in my rooftop tent, fishing or foraging for the freshest produce, going for hikes & sitting around the fire. I am part of the Anteloping team, a bunch of creative wedding vendors who create adventurous elopements...

I can cater for your wedding, workshop, feast or event for any number of guests. I believe everyone should be able to enjoy the food they love so all menu's are custom designed to your taste, event, dietary requirements & budget!

18/09/2025

Charred, spiced and zesty, our Lebanese Charred Chicken is bound to win some hearts!

This new seasonal protein can be chosen as part of your banquet or individually plated service. Packed full of flavour and spiced to perfection, here’s how it appears on our menu:

Banquet: Lebanese Charred Chicken, pickled onions, chives & buttermilk ranch.
 Individually Plated: Lebanese Charred Chicken, roasted pumpkin, halloumi, capsicum, herbs, cous cous, ranch & almonds.

Want to give it a try at home? Head to the recipe section of our website to find the full recipe along with some perfect sides!

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12/09/2025

Christmas is just over 100 days away, so why not get one thing ticked off the list now and focus on what’s really important, spending quality time with your loved ones.

Skip the shops, skip the stress, jump online and book The Wilderness Chef.

Our Wilderness Elves have thoughtfully prepared a Christmas Banquet to delight everyone, with the option to add a delectable sweet treat to finish your feast.

Featuring: Crispy Roast Pork Braised Lamb Shoulder A variety of delicious sides

Each meal is pre-prepared for easy reheating and serving at home. Sold in individual portions, so you can order the perfect amount for your gathering, big or small.

Find all the details via the link in our description!!

05/09/2025

Jasmina and Namik’s wedding day!

On June 14th this beautiful couple got married at with 16 guests! The day was wonderfully, filled with personal touches and sweet moments.

We had the pleasure of creating some delicious canapés to begin the day, followed by a flavourful individually plated degustation for main course and dessert.

What an exciting chapter you’ve entered and we wish you all the happiness and joy that comes along with it.

Photography by the talented -

01/09/2025

Ash and Cooper are getting MARRIED!!!

We might be a little quiet on socials over the next few days as the team will be off celebrating Ash and Cooper’s wedding. Eeeek, so excited!

If you’ve emailed or sent through an enquiry, it may take us a few extra days to respond, but rest assured we’ll get back to you as soon as possible!

29/08/2025

This is what your Christmas table could look like!

We’re getting in early with our ready-to-heat Christmas packages, designed to make your day easy and enjoyable.

Our Wilderness Elves have thoughtfully prepared a Christmas Banquet to delight everyone, with the option to add a delectable sweet treat to finish your feast.

Featuring: Crispy Roast Pork Braised Lamb Shoulder A variety of delicious sides

Each meal is pre-prepared for easy reheating and serving at home. Sold in individual portions, so you can order the perfect amount for your gathering, big or small.

Skip the shops, skip the stress, jump online and book The Wilderness Chef!

Find all the details via the link in our description!

Photography -

27/08/2025

Spring is full of incredible experiences and we can’t wait to share them with you!

Stonehurst Long Table Lunch – Saturday, 6th September Spend a spring afternoon in the Wollombi Valley enjoying a 5-course feast of local produce, matched Stonehurst wines, live acoustic music beneath the blossoming pear trees.

FEAST – Saturday, 13th September Join us for FEAST, a rolling lunch across three beautiful Hunter Valley wineries. The day begins with fresh oysters and sparkling wine before first course at De Iuliis Wines, followed by second course at Oak Vale Wines, and finishing with third course at Glandore Wines. Live music rounds out the afternoon!

Tasting Event – Sunday, 2nd November Sample our wedding and event catering menu at Talulah for a relaxed evening with canapés, mains, desserts, and a complimentary glass of sparkling wine. Meet our team, discuss your event, and taste what we do best!

For more information about each event and tickets, head to our website and click on the “tasting events” tab.

21/08/2025

We had the absolute pleasure of being part of Candice and Max’s beautiful wedding day at The Ambers in Port Stephens. This venue is as dreamy as they come, surrounded by nature and filled with charm, making it the perfect place for such a special celebration.

Candice and Max wanted an intimate wedding with 30 of their favourite people! Alongside the oyster bar we created, we also looked after the bar and beverage service. They chose two signature cocktails for their guests to enjoy, a Passionfruit Martini and a refreshing Pimm’s Cup. They also selected canapés to begin their food service, followed by an abundant banquet feast.

Their day was filled with laughter, joy and togetherness, everything a wedding should be. We feel so grateful to have been part of their story, helping bring their vision to life with food, drinks, service and care.

Check out our most recent blog post about their event, link in bio.

Photography -
Planner & Stylist -
Bar -
Venue - .ambers.portstephens

19/08/2025

Did somebody say cocktails?

Did you know you can book your catering and bar service all in one place? We’re partnered with an exceptional mobile bar company to make organising your food and drinks simple, seamless and stress free.

We have a collection of elegant and customisable mobile bars, paired with curated beverage packages to suit your style. Our experienced team is here to look after your guests from start to finish!

Whether you’re after signature cocktails and custom welcome drinks, roaming tray service, champagne towers, seamless table service, or a classic bar setup, we’ve got you covered. We’ll work with you to plan the perfect drinks menu, guide you on quantities, and bring your vision to life.

Whether it’s a wedding, corporate function, or private celebration, our bar team is ready to shake, stir, and serve your drinks in style.

Enquire today and let us bring the bar to you!

Photographer -

14/08/2025

We recently had the pleasure of being part of a styled shoot that brought together some incredible local vendors and showed just how much magic their creativity can bring to a wedding day.

We are always so blown away watching other vendors work and seeing the passion and skill that goes into every detail. This team truly went above and beyond to create a beautiful example of what is possible when you have the right people by your side.

It was also such a lovely chance to meet new faces and reconnect with some we have had the joy of working with before.

Head to our latest blog post to see even more photos from this amazing day.

The dream team of vendors:
Dear Fiore Photography –
Moody Imagery –
Leaves and Fishes –
Bay Window Events –
Mayd by Rhi – .byrhi
Butter Bakery – .au
Sage Blossoming –
MBL Bride –
Final Touch Bridal –
Alchemy St – .st_
The Fabric Alchemist –

08/08/2025

We’re lucky to have some seriously talented chefs on our team who consistently deliver flavour-packed, memorable menus without ever compromising on quality. But it doesn’t stop at the food, our front of house team are just as passionate, ensuring every guest feels looked after.

Before each event, they’re fully briefed on the flow of service, dietary requirements, and the finer details that bring everything together. Behind the scenes, our admin team makes the booking process smooth, transparent and stress-free, from your first enquiry to the final wave goodbye.

If you’re after wedding, corporate or event catering and want peace of mind that the team on-site will deliver professional service and effortless hospitality, you’re in the right place. We’re proud of the people behind The Wilderness Chef and it shows in everything we do.

Photographers
Slide 1, 2 and 4 -
Slide 3 and 6 - .with.mel
Slide 5 - .co
Slide 7 -

06/08/2025

We’re big believers in supporting local!

When it comes to beef and fresh produce, Australian farmers and producers do it best. Supporting them means better flavour, stronger communities, and a more sustainable food future.

It’s something that matters to us and it’s something we’ll always stand by.

We’ve rounded up some excellent local producers and butchers we think you’ll love:

Hunter Valley Premium Meats
Sellers Meat Co.
Binnie Beef
Hunter Natural (Morpeth Butchery)
Springhill Beef Co. – Hunter Valley
Edgeworth Meat & More
Hunter Natural (Morpeth Butchery)
Charlton Harvest
Caves Beach Butchery

Address

Charlestown, NSW

Website

http://www.thewildernesschef.com/

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