Young Commis Chef

2005
CHRISTCHURCH COMMIS CHEF TO REPRESENT NZ IN BERMUDA

Matt Jones from the Millennium Hotel, Christchurch, will represent New Zealand at the world finals of the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Best Young Commis Chefs Competition in Bermuda in September.

Jones, aged 26, won the New Zealand national finals of the 2005 competition, held in Christchurch on April 30.

The competition, held at the Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology, involved creating a three-course meal for four people in 3.5 hours from a mystery box of ingredients. Finalists from both North Island and South Island regional competitions took part. Competitors are judged on kitchen skills and on the presentation, taste, and innovation of their dishes.

Matt Jones’s winning menu included:

Entrée: Spiced terakihi with grapefruit and rhubarb miso-citrus salad

Main: Cervena rack with candied parsnips, eggplant, tomato relish and porcini thyme jus

Dessert: Kahlua and caramel brulée with cranberry and apple salad, minted sorbet.

“The standard was very high,” commented the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs New Zealand Bailli Délégué (President), Ian Hull-Brown. “I would have been happy to eat a meal created by any one of these finalists at a restaurant.”