NZ chef entries are now closed for the #OraKingAwards. We have selected our 10 semi finalists and handed the reigns over to our external independent judges.
We are excited to have Chef and restaurateur Geoff Scott join Anna King Shahab in tasting and judging the semi finalists. Between Geoff & Anna, they will determine the overall winner of the Best Ora King Dish New Zealand 2016.
Geoff has taken the time to answer some of our questions…………
Photo Credit ©Michael Bradley.
Tell us about the moment you decided you wanted to become a chef.
Cooking and serving dinner for my six siblings at home when I was a teenager and listening to their comments and feedback as we sat around the large family kitchen table. It was challenging but also really satisfying. This is when I knew I wanted to cook.
What’s your most memorable Ora King experience?
A few years ago I went to visit to the Ōra King hatchery at Takaka and seeing that crystal clear water of Te Waikoropupu spring where the journey of the salmon really starts was very memorable. It’s such a beautiful natural part of New Zealand; I’ll never forget that.
Why did you agree to be a judge in the 2016 Ora King Awards?
For the past 11 years at Vinnies restaurant my team and I would constantly search for the finest New Zealand products. Preparing and serving Ōra King for our guests has been a great way to share the story of superb quality salmon. For me it will be a real privilege and honour to see exactly how the public are eating and enjoying Ōra King salmon in other establishments around the country.
What are you most looking forward to in your first year of judging the Ora King Awards?
Getting to see what other chefs are thinking and doing creatively with Ōra King salmon – how they interpret the product, how they develop a concept and how they showcase it – at its finest.
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