Queenstown's Lucy Thompson prepares paella with Zamora
spicy sausages and mussels during a heat of the Remarkables
Market Chef competition. Ms Thompson will compete against
fellow home cook Jayne McCanny in the final of the 2012-13
competition, being held on March 23. Photo supplied.
The host of television travel and food show World Kitchen
will travel to Queenstown this month to judge budding amateur
chefs at the Remarkables Market Chef Competition final, being
held on March 23.
Nici Wickes, a food writer and restaurant critic, describes
herself as ''more of a Jamie Oliver than a Gordon Ramsay''
and delights in discovering new recipes and foods in her
travels.
Her new cookbook, Cook, Eat, Enjoy, will be launched
on April 1 and a New Zealand tour will follow, with stops
planned in Dunedin, Cromwell and Ranfurly.
Ms Wickes said she was excited about the final.
''I'm looking forward to seeing what will be whipped up for
the final, as Central Otago has some of our finest producers
and I know there is a twist in the box.
''I understand the local talent has been exceptional this
year and I can't wait to see them in action.''
The competition was introduced to celebrate local and
regional produce and unearth the hidden talents of
Queenstown's home cooks. Each month, two heats of two
contestants - untrained home cooks - have been mentored by a
local chef to create a mouthwatering dish.
The competition has been judged by some of Queenstown's best
chefs, including Rata's Josh Emett, True South Dining Room
and Bordeaux Wine Lounge's Ben Batterbury and Saffron's Logan
Murray. Mr Batterbury will judge the final, with private chef
Jenny Stewart as the mentor.
Finalists Lucy Thompson and Jayne McCanny, who both received
95 points or above in their heat, will be given a mystery box
of food and have two hours to present their meals.
Market
events
The Remarkables Market will host its inaugural dog show
tomorrow, with registrations opening at 9.30am.
There will be five categories: best dressed, best bark, best
groomed, best dog trick and best discipline.
Entry is by donation and a can of cat food for Queenstown Cat
Rescue.
The market will celebrate the end of the 2012-13 season with
its annual Easter bunny hunt on March 30, from 8.30am.
Children are encouraged to find the hidden bunnies and
exchange them at the market information stall for chocolate
eggs.
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