Chef Spotlight: Ashmore’s Chef Mateo

This edition, we’re shining the spotlight on Chef Mateo, whose passion for children is at the heart of everything he does at Sanctuary Early Learning Adventure Ashmore.

Mateo brings an incredible energy to the centre each day. He is warm, enthusiastic and always willing to have fun, and the children are naturally drawn to him. What stands out most is that the children are always his starting point. Whether he is preparing their meals, planning an experience, working in the garden or contributing to menu planning, he considers what they are telling him, what they are enjoying and how he can make their experience more meaningful.

For Mateo, being a Sanctuary Chef is about so much more than preparing food. It is an opportunity to build relationships, encourage curiosity and help children develop positive connections with food from an early age.

One of the ways Mateo brings this to life is through hands-on cooking and food experiences with children across the centre. Whether he is demonstrating a new skill, helping children prepare ingredients or creating something special alongside them, his genuine enjoyment and connection with the children are clear.

These experiences are not simply about the finished food. Children are encouraged to participate, ask questions, practise new skills and feel proud of what they create. The children are not simply watching their chef; they are learning, creating and sharing the experience alongside him.

Mateo is also committed to ensuring children’s voices are heard when menus are reviewed and developed. By listening to the children, observing how they respond to different meals and working closely with educators, he helps ensure their experiences are considered when adjustments are made. This thoughtful approach supports menus that meet nutritional requirements while remaining enjoyable, inclusive and responsive to the children who experience them each day.

His weekly letterbox chats provide another way for the children to share what they enjoy, what they may not like and what they would like to see. Mateo is continuing to explore ways for younger children to contribute through pictures, simple ratings and tick-box options so every child can have a voice.

The Ashmore garden is also an important part of Mateo’s work. Alongside the centre’s Green Team, he is helping strengthen the connection between the garden and kitchen by identifying herbs and produce that can be grown, harvested and used in the children’s meals. These paddock-to-plate experiences encourage conversations about where food comes from, sustainability and the shared responsibility involved in growing and preparing it.

Mateo also understands how much presentation can shape a child’s food experience. From thoughtfully presented meal trolleys to themed celebrations and shared mealtime rituals, he looks for ways to make food inviting, enjoyable and part of the children’s wider experience at the centre.

Reflecting on his role, Mateo shared:

“For me, having the time to make these connections makes the difference. Take me out of the routine and I can interact with the children better and understand them better.”

Mateo doesn’t just prepare food for the children, he brings them into the experience. His warmth, creativity and incredible energy help children feel heard, included and excited to participate.

We’re incredibly proud to recognise Mateo and the genuine difference his presence makes at Sanctuary Ashmore. The children truly are at the centre of his work, and that can be seen in every connection he creates.