Australian Chef Richard Ousby from Quay wins the 2012 Acqua Panna & S.Pellegrino Young Chef of the Year Award
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The S.Pellegrino Cooking Cup Trophy and the Inside the Cooking Award went for the first time to the same boat representing one of the S.Pellegrino global markets – Australia. The Australia boat carried up-and-coming young chef Richard Ousby across the finish line. Both trophies recognize the sailing skills of the crew in addition to the culinary expertise of the representing chef in the boat’s galley.
This year, chefs faced an additional challenge: create a dish using ingredients from a Mystery Basket (selected by ALMA, the International School of Italian Cuisine founded by Gualtiero Marchesi.) At daybreak, Venice’s famed Rialto market again played host to chefs hand selecting ingredients from the mystery list.
Inside the Cooking is a race within a race involving ten boats and ten crews, each with an on-board chef representing countries where the S.Pellegrino brand is marketed: Italy, China, Belgium, Luxembourg, Australia, Russia, the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, Israel and Sweden.
Representing Australia, Richard Ousby (2011 Electrolux Young Chef of the Year winner) was a great protagonist, also winning the Acqua Panna & S.Pellegrino Young Chef of the Year 2012 Award. This ambitious Australian chef, whose food philosophy centres around the sourcing of premium local seasonal produce available, impressed the Jury during two of the event’s crowning moments.
First, on Friday 22 June, the eve of the regatta, he prepared his “signature dish” – Lardo and prawn dumpling with shaved asparagus, local clams and summer herbs for guests and judges at the Hilton Molino Stucky Hotel. The Jury was again impressed when Ousby presented his dish based on ingredients from the Mystery Basket – “Chard mackerel with garlic custard, split peas, onion and roasted rice” from the ingredients. The Jury evaluated each chef’s dish according to four criteria: presentation, difficulty of execution, taste and proper pairing with wine and water.
“I am very proud of this Award and I thank all the people that helped me to get to this trophy today. In my opinion, what impressed the judges is that, coming from Australia, I have a different style and therefore used the Mystery Basket ingredients in a different way from the other chefs, expressing an interesting mix in the approach of multicultural Australian food,” said Ousby
John Brown, Managing Director of Electrolux Home Products, said, “On behalf of Electrolux I would like to congratulate Electrolux Young Chef Richard Ousby. We couldn’t be more proud of such an exciting achievement.”
Placegetters in the competition were Swedish Chef, Jacob Holmstrom with Italian, Lorenzo Cogo in third place. The People’s Choice Award, which allows the average foodie, guests of the inaugural dinner, to vote along with great gourmet experts on their favourite signature dish, went to Chef David Frenkel, from Israel S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna, ambassadors of Italian style and the art of living and synonymous with the global gourmet food and wine culture continue to uphold their commitment to the promotion of emerging talents.
The riveting 12th edition of the S.Pellegrino Cooking Cup came to a close when 33 boats competed for the best sailing time and culinary performance in a 12-mile race from the Lido of Venice to the Island of San Giorgio, organised in collaboration with the historic Venetian yacht club, Compagnia della Vela.
The winners were announced at the end of a windy but exciting day on the Venetian Lagoon.
To share in the excitement, tune into finedininglovers.com – the web community for food enthusiasts from all over the world, proudly endorsed by S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna natural mineral waters. The site will play host to a special reportage with info, photos and videos of the chefs and Jury members.
About S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna
S.Pellegrino, Acqua Panna and Sanpellegrino Sparkling Fruit Beverages are international trademarks of Sanpellegrino S.p.A. which is based in Milan, Italy.Distributed in over 120 countries through branches and distributors in all five continents, these products represent quality excellence by virtue of their origins and perfectly interpret Italian style worldwide as a synthesis of pleasure, health and well-being. Founded in 1899, Sanpellegrino S.p.A. is the leading company in the beverage sector in Italy with its range of mineral waters, non-alcoholic aperitifs, drinks and iced teas.
As a major Italian producer of mineral water, it has always been committed to enhancing this primary good for the planet and works responsibly and passionately to ensure that this resource has a secure future.
