One Apprentice A Cut Above In Kitchen Battle

Newcastle Herald

Thursday October 20, 2005

By JENNY TARRAN

THIS year's Brett Graham Award has been won by Pokolbin apprentice chef Troy Rhoades-Brown.

Mr Rhoades-Brown, from Roberts Restaurant, was one of seven third- and fourth-year apprentice chefs who battled it out yesterday at Hamilton TAFE for the $2500 prize.

The competition was designed to help top young Hunter chefs travel overseas for work experience.

It began with the apprentices preparing a three-course meal for four people, with each dish matched to wines.

After six hours in the kitchen, the top three, who were judged on their workflow, hygiene, skills and meals, faced a panel to discuss their passion for food and how they would be great ambassadors for the Hunter.

Mr Graham's signature dish, consomme with quail eggs, was the set entree.

Competitors had a chance to show innovation and skill with the main and dessert dishes, for which the ingredients came from a mystery box unveiled just before the apprentices entered the kitchen.

It included a pork loin with belly, scallops, cous cous, kumera, asparagus, lemon, limes, blueberries and raspberries.

"I've had a couple of sleepless nights before the competition," Mr Rhoades-Brown said after the first round of marking.

His main was an exceptional dish of rolled loin, infused with rosemary and set on a mixture of berries, and his consomme with ginger was a standout.

"I really enjoy competitions; you go in light-hearted but you always learn something," Mr Rhoades-Brown said after the first stage.

"I love cooking, experimenting, tasting, trying and even stuffing up. You learn all the time."

Mr Rhoades-Brown said he was keen to gain experience overseas but would return to the Hunter to share all he had learned.

Competitors included Nathan Picton, from the Hunter Resort, Michael Corry, from Shoal Bay Resort and Spa, Alisha Waters, of Silo, Prue Wheeler, from Newcastle Jockey Club, Jacqueline Nisner, of the Glades, and Joel Adele, from Sydney's Aria, who began in Pokolbin.