Chefs from IACC member properties throughout Europe gathered to compete in the IACC-Australia Asia Pacific Copper Skillet final held recently at the Mansion Hotel & Spa at Werribee Park, Victoria, Australia. The winners now go on to compete in the International Copper Skillet global final that takes place during the IACC Americas annual conference in April.
The competition saw 84 chefs in country finals, 12 in the IACC Chapter finals and the final 6 going forward to the last stage.
Chef Jesse Hughes from Vue Grande, is one of the youngest members of their team and one of the youngest chef de cuisines in Australia. He took the IACC-Australia Asia Pacific Junior Chef Category Copper Skillet for his winning dish in the cook-off. Industry judges named Jesse the winner for his dish of “Pan seared pork fillet with mushroom and leek ragout, king crab and pickled fennel salad in a lemon and thyme beurre blanc”.
Michael Greenlaw Executive Chef at Lindenderry at Red Hill, Victoria, took the IACC-Australia Asia Pacific Senior Chef Category Copper Skillet for his winning dish in the cook-off. Michael is a highly qualified and experienced chef at one of the lading conference centers in Australia. Industry expert judges named Michael the winner for his dish of Trussed Pork loin, Sautéed baby squash filled with braised quail, glazed fennel and Jus gros.
In both competitions, the chefs were presented with basic pantry items along with a “mystery basket” of proteins. They were given 30 minutes to prepare, create, and present their creations to judges and were watched on by fellow IACC members.
For the first year in the 11-year history of the Copper Skillet competition, IACC introduced a Junior Chef category where IACC conference centre chefs under the age of 26 competed in the cook-off.
Chef Hughes and Chef Greenlaw will go on to compete with other chefs from IACC chapters around the world at the International Copper Skillet Competition at the 34th IACC-Americas annual conference at the Bonaventure Resort & Spa in Fort Lauderdale, FL in April 2015 where the 11th Global Copper Skillet Champion will be named.
“The popular Copper Skillet competition was introduced in 2004 to highlight the artistry and skill of the best chefs from IACC-member conference centres around the world and to honour their contributions to the shared goal of providing an outstanding conference centre experience.” Said Peter Stewart IACC’s Global President and Chapter President. “The passion and national pride each of the chefs brought into this final was evident from the emotions of our winning chefs at the end of the competition. I was incredibly proud of them all and look forward to seeing Chef Hughes and Greenlaw represent Australia Asia Pacific in the global final next month”.
The 34th IACC-Americas Annual Conference is scheduled for April 14-17, 2015 at the Bonaventure Resort & Spa in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
