The Wilderness Chef

Home
Australia
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!

03/07/2025

What is an individually plated service?

Exploring individually plated and alternate drop dining, two elegant styles that share a refined feel but offer different experiences when it comes to variety and service.

Want to know what makes this service so special? From smooth coordination to picture-perfect plates, swipe through to discover why it might be the perfect fit for your event!

01/07/2025

After the weather we’ve today, we are reliving this incredible wedding to warm us up… 42 degree heat and all!

In the peaceful hills of Lake Macquarie, Dan and Mike shared vows in their backyard, surrounded by 100 of their nearest and dearest.

It was a blistering 42 degrees, but that didn’t stop anyone from soaking up the moment. Guests found some relief by hiding out inside the portable cool room, Dan and Mike embraced every second with warmth (literally) and joy.

Their wedding was full of personal touches and heartfelt moments, and centred around fun. We kicked things off with canapés and followed with a banquet-style feast, all prepared on-site with our Wilderness Kitchen setup.

As the sun went down, the party really came to life with a DJ set and an epic fire dancer performance. It was vibrant, full of love, and one of those days we’ll always remember!

Photography - .co
Bar -

27/06/2025

Canapés! Those perfect little bites that make every celebration feel a bit more special.

We’re excited to be launching our brand new canapé menu very soon, and yes, we’ve kept a few of the all-time favourites (because we’re pretty sure there would be a riot if we didn’t).

The Portobello Mushroom Arancini and Teriyaki Glazed Chicken Dumplings are staying put, along with our substantial canapes that are getting a slight shake up!

Our incredible chefs have been busy creating a fresh new line-up of canapés, the menu is below! Let us know in the comments which one you’re most excited to try.

Portobello Mushroom Arancini, leek, thyme, parmesan & truffle aioli

Smoked Salmon Rilette, tartare, pickled cucumber, puffed rice crisp & aleppo

Baked Four Cheese Tart, cheese custard. thyme & hot honey

Tandoori Chicken Tikka, roti bread, fennel, sweet chilli crunch & mint raita

Torched Scallop, cauliflower puree, dill & caper brown butter

Grilled Prawn, sambucca cream, sambal & curry leaf crisp

Teriyaki Glazed Chicken Dumpling, miso mayo, shallots, mint & soy seeds

Lamb Cracker, snake beans, shoots, xo black beans & fried noodles

Eye Fillet Tartare Crostini, salsa matcha, whipped feta & green peppers

BBQ Chorizo Roll, aged cheddar, bruschetta, dijon & crispy eshallot (substantial)

Grilled Haloumi Soft Taco, tomato chutney, shaved slaw & spiced almonds (substantial)

Braised Pork Soft Taco, coconut curry, shaved slaw & peanut crumb (substantial)

26/06/2025

Planning an event in a remote location? No kitchen? No problem.
 We specialise in creating restaurant quality food anywhere you need us with our Wilderness Kitchen Set-up! Our experienced team and complete setup, we make sure nothing is compromised, no matter where your event is held.

20/06/2025

A garden wedding with Aperol spritz in hand, sunshine through the trees and the kind of food that makes you want to stay at the table just a little longer.

Aleisha and John tied the knot on 14 December at Redleaf in Wollombi. With 133 guests, beautiful tables and the dreamiest light across the estate, the whole day had the best energy, with everything being relaxed, joyful and full of fun!

We kicked things off with a round of canapés during cocktail hour with truffled mushroom arancini, Moroccan lamb meatballs and chicken dumplings that disappeared in seconds. Then came the feast. Big, bold dishes laid out banquet style down the centre of the table, with everyone building their plates as they went.

Their menu featured charred peri peri chicken with salsa verde and puffed rice, moorish spiced lamb rump with zhoug and plenty of colourful sides to match. Dessert was simple and sweet, cannoli and a slice of cake to finish.

This one was such a joy to be part of. Beautiful setting, great people, incredible food. Wishing Aleisha and John all the best in married life, what a way to start!!!

The vendors that’s brought everything together!
Venue
Planner
Photographer
Cinematographer
Hair
Makeup
Florals + Candles
Bar
Celebrant
DJ@silentshoutent
Sax
Cake .au
Hire Items
Stationery
Wedding Dress@theivoryroombridal@corston_couture
Bridesmaid Dresses
Grooms Suit
Wedding Bands

17/06/2025

A Tale Of Local Produce

Introducing HARVEST, a one night only dining experience that reimagines what it means to eat locally. This exclusive evening will feature a four course menu with key ingredients sourced from within forty kilometres of our kitchen, each course will be thoughtfully paired with wine from Inner City Winemakers.

The result is a rare and refined expression of The Hunter Valley, on a plate, in a glass, and in the atmosphere we are creating just for you.

Includes:
Four course locally sourced menu
Four matched wines by Inner City Winemaker
Gallery access to view local artwork

It is a moment we will share once and once only.

For more information or book your table on our website!

10/06/2025

Come with us as we dive into why banquet-style dining has become the go-to for weddings and events!

From loaded platters to heartwarming moments shared across the table, banquet dining brings people together in the best way. It’s more than just a meal, it’s an experience.

Swipe through to see why this style of catering is stealing the spotlight! Then tap the link in our bio to explore the menus making it all happen!

05/06/2025

This menu was all about celebrating the setting!

Tucked away in the Hunter Valley and looking like it had been lifted straight from the hills of Italy, this venue set the perfect tone for a truly beautiful day. So we created a menu that felt just as thoughtful and full of charm, a three-course alternate drop feast designed around big flavours, seasonal ingredients and a real sense of place.

THE MENU:

Starter
- Italian Buffalo Burrata, perino tomatoes, basil pesto, pomegranate molasses & local sourdough, followed by two plated

Entree
- Torched Salmon, truffle capers, roasted cauliflower, yellow squash, toasted seeds & dill
- Roasted Duck Breast, tomato romesco, lentil ragu, glazed zucchini, shallots & spiced almonds

Main Course
- Moorish Spiced Lamb Rump, charred sweet potato, eggplant caponata, parsley, black olive & Hunter Valley feta
- Crispy Roasted Porchetta, charred broccolini, caramelised fennel, cabbage jam, jus & dukkah

Swipe through to see what we served on the day and some of the incredible images captured on the day by

This is the list of vendors we worked with: toscana_huntervalley

studio

koumertaskillerslimoncello_

03/06/2025

Your wedding day should feel like you. A celebration of who you are as individuals and everything you love together.

That is exactly what London and Tom created for their wedding at the beautiful Bidja Estate. They chose the venue because being surrounded by nature was important to them. It set the perfect backdrop for a day that felt calm, connected and completely true to who they are.

Everything was personal and thoughtfully considered. From London’s effortlessly beautiful dress to the way they set out the marquee, the florals and the lighting, every detail had meaning. The couple love attending festivals, so they wanted to bring that feeling into their wedding. As the sun went down, the space was lit with festoon lights, lanterns and scattered candles that gave the whole evening a warm glow. It created the perfect mood to dine and celebrate under the stars.

We served a family style banquet, with generous share platters running down the centre of each table. This style of dining is about more than food. It is about connection, conversation and creating a shared experience that feels joyful and easy.

We love working with couples to create something that reflects their story. Whether it is designing a bespoke menu item that nods to your favourite place, or tailoring a service style that suits your day, we are here to help you make your celebration feel like your own. Thoughtful, meaningful and uniquely yours.

These phenomenal photos were captured by

30/05/2025

What sets us apart?

28/05/2025

A wedding that could have been plucked straight from a fairytale!

Bella and Oscar were married on April 23, 2025, at Breenhold Gardens in Mount Wilson, which created the most spectacular backdrop. Two of our private chefs travelled down in our largest commercial van and met a front of house staff member at the venue.

Bella and Oscar had an intimate gathering of 30 guests, which created a cosy and warm atmosphere. Coupled with the weather putting on the waterworks, the entire event felt misty, romantic, and charming. The scenes could have come straight from the pages of a fairytale novel.

This was our team’s first time at this venue, which is always exciting but comes with new logistics. The venue doesn’t have any power, which required our Wilderness Kitchen so we could prepare the menu fully off-grid. This meant leaving our trusty electric deep fryer at home and going old school with a makeshift stovetop fryer setup, to create our delicious Arancini!

We helped the couple create a bespoke package to align with their vision for the day, which was a banquet share plate-style service, with beautiful plates of food placed down the centre of the table, allowing guests to build their own plates to suit their tastes.

What an incredible day to be a part of and one for the books! Wishing the couple all the best for this next chapter in their lives. May it be every bit as magical as their wedding.

These exceptional photos captured by
Videography: .by.andy
Celebrant:

26/05/2025

Let’s talk about one of the most underrated stars of any event… the humble canapé.

Whether you are hosting a full canapé style function or just planning a canapé hour to keep guests happy until the main feast, this style of service ticks all the boxes. It is fun, flexible, and gets people up, about, and mingling. Think cocktails in hand, laughter in the air, a few competitive rounds of lawn games… this is what golden hour dreams are made of.

You have already spent time (and let’s be honest, probably a few Pinterest boards worth of scrolling) choosing the perfect venue, so why not make the most of it? Roaming canapés allow guests to explore the space, soak up the surroundings, and enjoy the atmosphere.

And here is the best part, our team of chefs and front of house team are always ready to bring the experience to life. They will float around with trays of bite sized magic, happily chatting to your guests, answering questions, and sharing little insights about what they are serving.

So if you are looking to keep things relaxed, social, and just the right amount of fancy, roaming canapés might just be your new favourite thing. Because food this good deserves to be shared, savoured, and maybe even danced between.

Photography by

Address

Charlestown, NSW

Website

http://www.thewildernesschef.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Wilderness Chef posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.