Chefs to face a grilling

CHEFS from across Gippsland are urged to get cooking in the lead-up to the region’s famous signature dish competition.
A prize pool of $3000 worth of advertising awaits those judged to have the best dishes showcasing the region’s produce.
Noojee chef John Snelling from The Outpost Retreat proudly took out the 2008 Gippsland Signature Dish title. His plate of Re Gen Garfield emu matched with Jinks Creek 2004 Longford Shiraz won him $2000 in prizes.
Chefs and cooks simply need to submit a recipe of their signature dish which should include as much Gippsland produce as possible and be matched to a local wine or beer. Written entries close on Tuesday 27 January 2009 and should also include a photograph of the dish and a list of all ingredients, in particular details of any local produce used.
From the written entries a judging panel of food and wine specialists will select three finalists to participate in the Gippsland Signature Dish Grand Final Cook Off at the Jindi Cheese Harvest of Gippsland Food and Wine Festival at Lardner Park on Sunday 1 March 2009.
The winner of the 2009 Gippsland Signature Dish Grand Final Cook Off will take home $1000 in cash and $1000 of advertising with either Southern Cross Ten or Star FM, thanks to Macquarie Southern Cross Media.
New to Gippsland Signature Dish Competition in 2009 is the People’s Choice Award. Three commended entries will be selected to cook live on stage at the Jindi Cheese Harvest of Gippsland in the 2009 Gippsland Signature Dish People’s Choice Award. As the name suggests, the winner of this award will be chosen by the audience and will take home $500 in cash and $500 advertising with either Southern Cross Ten or Star FM.
Entry to the 2009 Gippsland Signature Dish Competition is free and open to all chefs and cooks working in a Gippsland hospitality business. There is no limit to the number of entries a business can submit, so restaurants and cafes are encouraged to get their head chefs, sous chefs and apprentices to enter.
The 2009 Gippsland Signature Dish Competition is proudly supported by Lardner Park Events, Destination Gippsland, Southern Cross Television, Star FM as well as Baw Baw, Cardinia, Latrobe, Bass Coast and South Gippsland Shire Councils.
For further information or an entry form please contact Sophie O’Neil on 0414 559 338.