Battling it out for the perfect healthy brunch

Published: 30 March 2016

Kiwi chefs are being invited to sharpen their knives and showcase their brunch-cooking skills at a competition in Wellington next month.

As part of Wellington Culinary Fare, the capital’s premier annual culinary event, the Heart Foundation is sponsoring a ‘healthy brunch’ cookery class.

“We’re looking for 10 professional or trainee chefs to take part in what will be a really fun, but also highly competitive event,” says Heart Foundation chef Asher Regan.

Each competitor will have one hour to create four identical brunch dishes that are largely based on vegetables or fruit, and that must be healthy.

Entrants will be judged not just on the taste and presentation of their dishes, but also on their work practice and food hygiene. 

Wellington Culinary Fare features a series of live cookery and hospitality challenges and this year moves from its long-held residence at The Food Show to the Weltec School of Hospitality and Le Cordon Bleu New Zealand in downtown Wellington.

Other events at Wellington Culinary Fare include the prestigious ‘Chef of the Capital’ and the National Secondary Schools Culinary Competition, which both promise exciting viewing for spectators. 

For an aspiring chef, succeeding in any of these events is a fantastic addition to their resume, says Asher.  

“The Heart Foundation encourages chefs to check out available classes, sharpen the knives and get ready to cook up a storm.”

He adds that Wellington Culinary Fare isn’t just for professional and trainee chefs, it’s also a great chance for ‘foodie’ members of the public to observe live cooking in a pressure-cooker environment.

Wellington Culinary Fare is on May 21 and 22 at the Weltec School of Hospitality and Le Cordon Bleu New Zealand on Cuba St, Wellington.