Which chef will take the cake?

EVERY CHEF wants the right mix to get his recipe going. Ultimately, the taste of the most exotic gastronomic creation is in the eating.

Several chefs are gathering in the city with the sole objective of proving themselves to be the best. The contest is for the Nestle Star Chef of the year (2001).

Being organised by the South India Culinary Association at the MGR Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology on September 9, the contest is slated to ``open doors to new recipes'' by chefs and students of catering institutions. It will also provide a platform to young chefs to exhibit their art.

``Already, the Association has got 68 confirmed entries for the event, which will be the second in the series,'' says its Vice- President Mr. K. Damodharan. Barring the `Live' contest, all other events are open and there is no age limit for participation. The live contest is only for chefs aged below 25 and working in hotels and leading catering establishments, points out Mr. N. Kannan, the Association President. A panel comprising leading chefs and culinary experts in the country will judge the entries. The competition otherwise has been divided into five categories namely, vegetable or fruit carving, cake decoration, ice carving or butter sculpture and innovative recipes. In the culinary contest, three dishes have to be prepared in an innovative style - a three course menu comprising of a starter, main course and dessert. Of the three, one should be prepared using any one of the mentioned Nestle products as the foundation ingredients, according to Mr. P. Soundararajan, the Association Secretary.

While the culinary contest will be judged based on hygiene, presentation, taste, texture and product usage, the remaining four categories would be presentation, innovation, artistic appearance, hygiene and professional excellence at work. The South India Culinary Association has on cards a ``mega 1,000 kg cake baking event'' involving at least 20 chefs, in early October. Besides scouting for sponsors for the event, the Association is on the look-out for air-conditioned space between 3,000-4,000 square feet. The cake, which perhaps would also find a place in the records, would be donated to an orphanage.

By N. Ravikumar

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Southern States
Previous : And the winner is...