Shakey Chef Has Two Steady Hands

Newcastle Herald

Thursday October 18, 2007

By JENNY TARRAN Food Editor

THIS year's Brett Graham Award has been won by Pokolbin apprentice chef Joshua Thompson.

Mr Thompson, from Shakey Tables, North Rothbury, was one of seven third- and fourth-year apprentice chefs who battled it out yesterday at Hamilton TAFE for the annual scholarship.

He will now travel overseas for work experience with chef Brett Graham at the one-star Michelin-rated restaurant The Ledbury, in Notting Hill, London.

Mr Graham began his apprenticeship at Scratchley's on the Wharf and was named Britain's young chef of the year in 2002.

The main component of yesterday's contest was a gruelling six hours in the kitchen preparing a three-course meal for four people.

The young apprentices were told to prepare Mr Graham's signature dish of consomme with quail eggs for the entree and were given a mystery box of ingredients for the other two courses.

The box included a pork loin with belly, scallops, kumera, asparagus, blueberries and strawberries.