Up and coming chef Samantha Warena from Rotorua was in action at the recent grand finals of the Nestlé Golden Chef’s Hat Award, held in Queenstown.
Samantha competed against 10 other chef competitors from around Australia in a high-pressure virtual cook off to find out the overall winner of the 2021 competition.
Samantha created a three-course menu comprising an entrée of a creamy pumpkin puree served with black bean and CHEF Black Garlic Paste patties with fresh basil, smoked paprika feta and a pistachio and parmesan wafer.
The main was a rosemary and mushroom stuffed chicken roulade, served with duchess sweet potatoes, capsicum and a courgette and raspberry sauce. To finish, dessert comprised a no-bake citrus cheesecake with sweet panko crumb, blueberry powder and a rich dark chocolate sauce.
A judging panel made up of industry experts scored Samantha and the other competitors against globally recognised culinary standards.
One winner will take out the coveted title of Golden Chef of the Year and a $10,000 cash prize. The overall winner will be announced on 30 November via a virtual awards ceremony.
As Australia’s longest running culinary competition for young chefs, the Nestlé Golden Chef’s Hat Award is now in its 56th year of supporting top emerging culinary talent and helping to kick start their careers.
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