By TALEI TORA
92 students from 8 schools in Nadroga and Navosa will battle it out at the schools chef challenge tomorrow (Friday, 16, August) at Sigatoka Andhra Sangam College.
Sponsored by the Outrigger on the Lagoon • Fiji in partnership with Sigatoka Andhra Sangam College the competition is expected to produce some mouth watering delectable dishes made from local foods and produce.
Outrigger Fiji executive chef and president of the Fiji Chefs association Shailesh Naidu said the competition was first held for Sigatoka Andhra Sangam College last year and was opened up to other schools for the 2013 challenge.
“After a successful competition last year other schools were very interested to take part in the challenge this year and we are absolutely pleased with the response from the schools in Nadroga and Navosa”, Chef Naidu said.
“Last year we (judges) had a hard time choosing the winners. The cooking talents of our young chefs are amazing, their dishes were good enough to be served at fine dining restaurants and the menus they came up with using our local foods and vegetables was very admirable and futuristic”, he continued.
The competitors will prepare dishes from five categories, egg, chicken, seafood, vegetarian and cake decorations.
Ram Sami and Sons, Bakels, Crest Chicken, Coral Coast Fruits and Vegetables and Danny’s (suppliers of seafood) have kindly teamed up with the organizers to sponsor the various categories.
Outrigger on the Lagoon • Fiji was recognised as the Best Deluxe Accommodation in Fiji at the 2012 AON Excellence in Tourism awards, as well as the Best Fine Dining Restaurant for it’s Ivi Restaurant.
The resort prides itself on delivering all the luxury of a five star property with the unforgettable warmth only found in a traditional Fijian village.