By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
IT WAS whisks and rolling pins at 10 paces when three Geelong chefs pulled out all the pots competing for a Garuda Airlines trip to Europe this week.
The three represented the region in this year’s Best Chef Award, part of a 2013 Golden Plate restaurant and food awards.
Vue Grand’s Jesse Hughes, The Queenscliff Inn’s Jackson Williamson and Bellbrae Harvest’s Adam Langridge competed with six other regional Victorian chefs for the honour.
The nine produced an entrée and main course from a mystery box of ingredients for four judges during a cook-off on Monday.
Food industry icon and awards chief judge Rita Erlich said the competition format took the chefs out of their comfort zone to test their creativity.
“Our focus is on the quality of the finished dishes, so most points are allocated to their presentation and flavour.
“We recognise that the chefs are outside their own kitchens and that this is an improvised meal that challenges them in terms of imagination, practicalities and time.”
Awards project manager Pamela Jewson said the Garuda Indonesian Airlines business-class trip offered the winning chef a rare opportunity to experience the finest in European dining trends.
The winner will be announced at the Golden Plate Awards dinner in November.
The Independent is a sponsor of the awards.
