FSA2011 Expo Wrap

Before we roll up the red carpet and say goodbye to FSA2011 Expo it is time to look back at what was a truly successful show, one in which like minded industry professionals, truly got the opportunity to talk about their industry and build their businesses through the exchange of ideas. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all who came and to acknowledge the winners of this year’s competitions.FSAA 2011 Chef of the YearCongratulations to Nicolas Poelaert, Executive Chef and Owner of Embrasse restaurant in Carlton for winning the FSAA 2011 Chef of the Year in a tightly contested competition.The first time entrant, Nicolas wowed the judges with his three tapas style dishes of poached lamb with crushed parsnip and enoki mushrooms served with a chervil and lamb consommé; roasted lamb rump with a mustard and Jerusalem artichoke puree and spinach ball and finally a grilled lamb rump with honey and goats cheese puree and a compressed apple and Japanese vinegar with a honey olio glaze.Nicholas adds this title to a growing list including the Good Food Guide’s 2010 Young Chef of the Year and Gourmet Traveller’s Best New Talent 2010.Chief judge George Hill said of the competition “It was a unanimous decision from the judges to award Nic with the prize. We saw the same high level as in previous years but at the finish, it was the quality of food that he bought to his plate that made the difference”.“I found the competition pretty tough as it was the first time that I had competed in such an arena, the Luus cooking equipment that we had been provided with was fantastic and of a very high standard making it easier to be working in a foreign kitchen for the first time,” said Nicolas.Nicolas looks forward to defending his title next year and to putting his winnings back into the restaurant and spending it on his new baby at home.The Future in Safe Hands as William Angliss Institute Student Wins $5000 at FSAA 2011 Apprentice Chef of the Year CompetitionCommercial Cookery apprentice, Victoria Crothers, from the Grand Hyatt Melbourne won $5000 at the 2011 FSAA William Angliss Institute Apprentice Chef of the Year Award on Tuesday, 21 June. Twelve William Angliss Institute apprentices competed on the final day of FoodService Australia 2011 producing three styles of tapas, four plates of each within one hour.Apprentices Sherryne Cadd came second and Chris Taylor came third. All prize winners received a Victorinox knife set.Culinary and Food Processing Deputy Manager, Mark Agius said “I was overwhelmed by how the students presented themselves and worked to professional industry standards. This is due credit to the training they have had from the Professional Cookery teaching staff at William Angliss Institute over the last two to three years.”Best Sandwich Maker of the SouthMatt Wilkinson, Co-owner of Pope Joan in Brunswick East, Victoria, is the Southern Area Final winner of the Great Australian Sandwichship.Competing against four of the best sandwich makers from across Australia’s southern states, Wilkinson won narrowly with his own unique take on what constitutes a good sandwich across a number of different categories including best toasted and creative sandwich, along with a wrap and a roll. Key to his victory at the Great Australian Sandwichship Southern Final was the creativity of his menu which included his lunch roll, The Cornish, and Posh Toasted, a toasted sandwich with Welsh rarebit fondue, both of which won awards in their respective categories.‘I am extremely proud to have been named as the best sandwich maker from across the southern states of Australia. The competition was extremely strong and the innovation from everyone involved has been amazing to see,’ said Matt. ‘I’m excited to see over the coming months if I will represent Australia at the World Sandwichship.’The Great Australian Sandwichship Northern Final will be held in August and the winner of Northern Final will be judged against the winner of the Southern Final to determine who the best sandwich maker in the country is. The national winner will then have direct access to the World Sandwichship Final in Sydney in October, where they will compete against the best sandwich makers from around the world.Australian Artisan Baking Cup 2011Eight, three man teams competed around the clock, as bakers do for the title of Australia's leading bakers and patissieres at the 2011 Artisan Baking Cup. At stake was also a place on Team Bakery Australia to compete against the rest of the world at SIGEP International Bread Cup in January 2012.Sectional Winners of each category were:Bread CategoryBaguette – Benjamin Mount - ACTCiabatta – Mathew Thorpe – SASourdough – Mathew Thorpe – SAHealthy Bread – Tim Modra - NTViennoiserie, Pastries and Sweet YeastCroissant – Aurelie Germanier – VictoriaDanish – Benoit Marchand – TasmaniaBrioche – David Moodie – WACentre PieceShane Greenman – VictoriaTeam’s ChoiceDavid Moodie – WAArtisan Cup - st place ACT - nd place Victoria - rd place WACompetitors used state of the art equipment provided by Vanrooy Machinery a key figure in the baking industry, in what was a true demonstration and celebration of the strength of food quality, trade professionalism and the art of international artisan baking here in Australia.FSAA 2011 National Awards of ExcellenceOver 400 industry leaders gathered at the Park Hyatt in Melbourne on Monday 20th June for the industry’s’ "night of nights,"" A stylish celebration of those companies and individuals who have excelled in customer service and product innovation over the past twelve months was capped by dynamic and humorous magician Matt Hollywood – what a night!And the winners are: CATEGORY WINNER NSW Metro Foodservice Distributor of the Year Bidvest Sydney NSW Regional Foodservice Distributor of the Year (incorporating ACT) Foodservice Central VIC Metro Foodservice Distributor of the Year Superior Food Services VIC Regional Foodservice Distributor of the Year Bidvest Geelong QLD Metro Foodservice Distributor of the Year QFFS QLD Regional Foodservice Distributor of the Year Max Stocks Wholesale Foodservice SA Metro Foodservice Distributor of the Year PFD Food Services Adelaide SA Regional Foodservice Distributor of the Year (incorporating NT) Asian United Food Service WA Metro Foodservice Distributor of the Year Sealanes WA Regional Foodservice Distributor of the Year Craven Foods TasmaniaFoodservice Distributor of the Year PFD Launceston National Foodservice Distributor of the Year Superior Food Services Food Supplier of the Year Inghams Foodservice Beverage Supplier of the Year Golden Circle Tabletop Supplier of the Year Australian Fine China Foodservice Equipment Supplier of the Year Comcater Bakery Equipment Supplier of the Year Vanrooy Service Supplier of the Year Australian Culinary Federation Innovation of the Year Bidvest Australia Chairman of the FSAA, Lindsay Yeomans, said that the National Awards of Excellence had now established itself as one of the “must attend” events on the Foodservice calendar. “It was a wonderful night, where the industry gets together, acknowledges our peers and has a lot of fun!”Also, three of the supplier channel’s better known personalities were inducted into the Hall of Fame:Maurice Kemp – a stalwart of the Foodservice Equipment sectorTom Colless – an icon in the Foodservice Distribution channelNoel Benson – a man with more than thirty years’ experience in Foodservice sales and marketing.“Each of these men has made significant contributions to the industry over many years and are most deserving of their recognition. Induction into the Hall of Fame is the highest acknowledgement the FSAA can bestow, and we are honoured to have these three leaders as part of our alumni” said Yeomans.