ABOUTBEN BAYLY

 
 
Ben was born and raised on a dairy farm in the Waikato. As a young New Zealand chef, he was awarded Commis Chef of the Year 1999, National Youth Skills 2000, and received the Bill Gallagher scholarship at Johnson and Wales University of Culinary Arts in Providence, Rhode Island, USA

He has spent many years working in a number of famed restaurants around the world including the likes of Fenix in Melbourne, Le Crique in Las Vegas, The Square & the Ledbury in the U.K, and Restaurant Jean-Paul Jeunet, Atelier de Joel Robuchon in France and 9 years at the iconic restaurant, The Grove in Auckland, New Zealand.

Ben is currently Executive chef at Baduzzi an an award winning Italian restaurant, he recently co-founded The Grounds restaurant, Waitakeres, Auckland where he is Executive Chef alongside Mike “The Magic Russian” Shatura. Your modern family eatery serving premium Kiwi cuisine, gorgeous wine and down-to-earth service.

There’s more on the wood burner… new gorilla style video productions and projects in the restaurant space, Ben is looking forward to sharing that with you, keep in touch


 
 

Awards

  • 2016 Gilmores Outstanding Chef – Lewisham awards
  • 2015 Cuisine Magazine’s NZ Good Food Awards – Chef of the Year – The Grove / Baduzzi Restaurant
  • 2014 Cuisine Magazine’s NZ Good Food Awards – Chef of the Year – The Grove / Baduzzi Restaurant
  • 2012 Cuisine Best Metropolitan Restaurant Winner – The Grove Restaurant
  • 2011 Supreme Winner of the Metro Audi Restaurant of the Year – The Grove Restaurant
  • 2010 Supreme Winner of the Metro Audi Restaurant of the Year – The Grove Restaurant
  • 2004 Cuisine Magazine’s Restaurant of the Year Finalist

Television

  • 2018 Hangi Pit Masters
  • 2015 My Kitchen Rules, Series 2 2014 My Kitchen Rules NZ
  • 2012, 2014 guest chef Master Chef NZ

 

COOKINGPHILOSOPHY

"Cuisine is the business of beautiful relationships"

Tez takes photo of King Prawn on plate at baduzzi

THEMENU

“When creating a menu for a restaurant or an event, I aim to use seasonal heirloom and fresh organic produce, supporting local growers as much as possible, they are often very passionate small family businesses”



 

PARTNERSIN HOSPO

“Here’s a perfect moment to mention some of the epic people and businesses I’ve had the pleasure to work with.
There are too many to list in one fell swoop… but here is a good place to start”