Gourmet Cook-Off

Gourmet Cook Off, as the name suggests is all about food and eating! Participants will be set the challenge of creating a three course meal, with an outdoor, gourmet feel using skills and techniques acquired in fun and creative workshop tutorials, facilitated by trained chefs and instructors. The outdoor kitchens would be covered and in case of inclement weather could be held indoors.

Some of the workshop sessions that are provided are listed below:

• Bread making – using a selection of dough including speciality breads
• Smoking – meat and fish
• Sausage or burger making
• Outdoor cooking techniques, dutch ovens, skillets, heat sources
• Pizza – cooked using skillets
• Dessert – Flambé pineapple, grilled bananas, cake decorating, pancakes, berries
• Beverage – elderflower cordial making, fruit tea, sloe gin (dependant on time of year)

The objective from the workshop sessions is that teams leave with an idea for inclusion in their final platter, a finished dish or ingredient, or a useful skill which will come in handy in preparing their final platter as applicable. During the preparation session the chefs and instructors will be available for further help and advice. There will be a large digital timer increasing the pressure on the teams to prepare their bread and three dishes for the judging panel within a strict time line.

As in any kitchen the team challenge is to identify leadership, reach consensus, delegate the roles and above all clearly communicate with each other under time pressure. The team that succeeds at achieving this will stand the best chance of winning the cook-off!