NZ-UK Young Chef's Culinary Challenge (UK)
16 November 2010
The NZ-UK Link Foundation Culinary Challenge is the UK side of the Foundation's Culinary Exchange Awards and offers the working opportunity of a lifetime for a young British chef to travel and work in New Zealand for five weeks. The competition is administered by the British Craft Guild of Chefs.
The 2010 Challenge
Ben Murphy (pictured, right, receiving his award from Peter Gordon) is a 19- year old commis chef from London's five-star Berkeley Hotel, has won the 2010 NZ-UK Young Chef's Culinary Challenge.
Ben's superb three-course menu featuring NZ venison and manuka honey, won him a three-week study trip to NZ observing in the top restaurants, visiting award-winning vineyards and suppliers, with the option of one further week to explore the country.
The award-winning menu comprised langoustine tortellini, seared scallop, langoustine and saffron sauce; roast NZ venison loin, spiced pickled pear, beetroot puree, celeriac and kumara fondant terrine, chocolated infused jus; and manuka honey souffle, lavender and yoghurst ice-cream and pollen tuille.
Fellow entrants, Scott Kedwards, KPMG Birmingham was also highly commended for his starter of butternut squash veloute, cornish pan-seared scallops and Devon lobster tortellini and Luke Orwin, Tyne Met College for his dessert of manuka honey tart, autumn squash curd and raspberry sorbet.
Following the cookoff, well-known New Zealand celebrity chef of The Providores and Tapa Room Restaurant’ London and founder of the awards, Peter Gordon presented this prestigious award at a special function held in the Penthouse Suite of New Zealand House, London.
Gordon commented: “This year, we received an overwhelming selection of high calibre entrants making it extremely hard to narrow down the choice to just eight finalists. Of the eight that were chosen, all did themselves proud on the day by producing some truly outstanding dishes.
"The quality of the entries is a fantastic indication of how highly respected the competition is amongst tutors and employers around the UK in regards to the advancement of their junior staff and students.”
The other finalists in 2010 included:
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Tom Biddle, Marriott Forest of Arden, Birmingham
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Luke Bannister, Le Meridien Piccadilly, London
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Rebecca Mackie, Red Anywhere Catering, London
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Adam Rawson, Viajante restaurant, London
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Daniel Smith, Westminster Kingsway College, London
Judges included David Mulcahy, Vice President Craft Guild of Chefs; Peter Gordon, Chef/Proprietor, The Providores and Tapa Room Restaurant; Steve Munkley, Executive Chef, Royal Garden Hotel; Nigel Boschetti, Executive Chef, Grosvenor House; and Cristian Hossack, Head Chef, The Providores and Tapa Room Restaurant.
Other guests included senior industry figures and dignitaries.
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Ben and his fellow entrants faced strict criteria for entry into the Culinary Challenge. Applicants had to be aged aged between 18 and 23 as of 1st December 2010, in training or employment and holding a British passport.
The 2010 competition - which again attracted a bumper crop of high calibre entrants - saw eight successful finalists compete in the final cook-off at Westminster Kingsway College in London on 15 November 2009. All finalists and two guests were invited to a reception at the Penthouse Suite of New Zealand House in the West End of London, catered by Peter Gordon, that evening where the winner was announced. Other guests included senior industry figures and dignitaries.
Have a look at the Culinary Challenge 2009 video at the bottom of the page to find out how all the finalists fared that year. This has been donated by media production company Breeze and Freeze.
Previous winners
In 2009, Luke Fouracre, a 22-year-old demi chef de partie from the House of Commons in London, won the award to travel to New Zealand to experience the NZ culinary world. In 2008, Chris White of Claridge's Hotel in London, won the award and travelled to New Zealand to work in a selection of New Zealand restaurants and hotels. Amongst his placements were 'dine', Peter Gordon's restaurant at SkyCity, Pure Taste in Pahia, and the award-winning Logan Brown and Martin Bosley's restaurants in Wellington. Previous British winners include Selin Kiazim of Westminster Kingsway College (2007), Chris Hagan of Baslow Hall Restaurant in Derbyshire (2006), Sophie Wright of Westminster Kingsway College in London (2005), Mark Dixon of the Imperial Hotel in Great Yarmouth (2004) and Eddie Raines of the Castle Hotel in Hereford (2003).
"New Zealand was the trip of a lifetime. I want to thank you and everyone who helped organise it once again. I will never forget it and want to go back. Good luck to the next person. They are soooooo lucky." Sophie Wright, 2005 NZ-UK Link Foundation Culinary Challenge Winner.
"Fabulous is all I can say," said Mark Dixon, 2004 winner, after his return from New Zealand.
"This is perhaps the best chance that you will have to experience New Zealand's unique cuisine," the inspiration behind this award, Peter Gordon, Chef Proprieter of Providores Restaurant in London urges young contenders thinking of entering the award. "On top of that, New Zealand is truly the most beautiful country, with some of the friendliest people.
"You'd be mad not to give this a go."
Files
- Application form 2010
- Download: Application_Form_2010_1.pdf (111.2 KB)
- Culinary Challenge Rules (2010)
- Download: (4 KB)