NZ-UK Link Foundation Culinary Challenge (UK)
19 November 2009
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 2009 Challenge
Luke Fouracre (pictured, right, receiving his award from former All Black Sean Fitzpatrick), a 22 year old demi chef de partie at the House of Commons in London, is the 2009 NZ-UK Link Link Foundation Culinary Challenge winner.
He 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 2009, in training or employment and holding a British passport.
The 2009 competition - which again attracted a bumper crop of entrants - saw eight successful finalists compete in the final cook-off at Westminster Kingsway College in London on 9 November 2009. All finalists and their mentors 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.
The 2009 finalists were:
- Rosie Angus – Westminster Kingsway College
- Thomas Brown – Royal Duchy Hotel, Cornwall
- Ross Copland – Turnberry Hotel
- Daniel Elliss – Boodles Restaurant, London
- Jason Foster – Anton's Restaurant, Hertfordshire
- Luke Fouracre – House of Commons
- Adam Ross Higgins – Claridge's
- Matthew Roe – G4 Inns
Have a look at the Culinary Challenge 2009 video at the bottom of the page to find out how all the finalists fared. This has been donated by media production company Breeze and Freeze.
Previous winners
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 2009
- Download: Application_Form_2009.pdf (341.05 KB)
- Competition Rules 2009
- Download: Competiton_Rules__Information_2009_new.pdf (613.36 KB)
- Invitation letter 2009
- Download: Invite_letter_2009_for_website.pdf (75.75 KB)