CHEF CHALLENGE
2009 Winning Chefs & Recipes

And 'The Great Potato Challenge 2009' winners are....

Top Finalist
Mark Soper of Eurest Catering, New Plymouth.
Mark used the versatility of Agria potatoes to make his dish a winner. The entreé/brunch-style dish wowed the judges with its seasonal spring/summer flavours. Although his potato crepes are often served with eel and other seafood, he chose salmon for the competition as a tribute to his Marlborough heritage.
Congratulations Mark!


The Top 10 Finalists were:
Auckland and Northland
• Paul Jobin, Restaurant 243, Kerikeri, Northland
• Steve Barton, Executive Chef, Ellerslie Convention Centre, Greenlane, Auckland
• Adrian Brett-Chinnery, Head Chef, Bracu, Bombay
• Antony Bates, Verve Café, Parnell, Auckland
• Jeremy Dixon, Head Chef, Revive Vegeterian Café, Auckland
• Orit Hume, Chef, 18 Carrot Gourmet Catering, Auckland
Taranaki
• Mark Soper, Eurest Catering, New Plymouth
Wellington
• Raymond Morrell, Chef-Tutor, Bistro 107, Petone
South Island
• Felicity Gabites, Head Chef, JB's Café Ballantynes, Timaru
• David Spice, Visions on Campus Restaurant, Christchurch


The Top 4 Finalists were invited to Auckland for the final cookoff
Four of finalists were invited to a cook off held at Manukau Institute of Technology. Marc Soper, Paul Jobin, Antony Bates and David Spice.

The competition was held at the excellent facilities at CHATS, MIT. Potatoes NZ thanks the 2009 Judges for their expertise. They were Michael van de Elzen, Chef/Owner Molten, Mt Eden and winner of the 2008 Challenge. Royce Bold, Executive Sous Chef, Sky City Convention Centre, Auckland.Tony Taylor, Sales & Marketing Manager, Fresh Connection and Head Judge Johann Wohlmuther, Head of School, CHATS, MIT.

The generosity of the sponsors was very much appreciated.


The 2009 Winning Recipes...
• Agria potato crêpe with Sea smoke Manuka smoked salmon, pickled cucumber, herb crème fraiche with citrus oil
• Potato eggplant sandwich with tomato jelly, potato clusters and spring vegetables
• Salmon Hash
• The Baked Potato Brunch


The top 4 finalists
• Marc Soper
• Paul Jobin
• Antony Bates
• David Spice