Free Range Chef

Hi Stephen, fair to say it was a slow Sunday after an outstanding Saturday night! Yes everyone thoroughly enjoyed the evening and the food / wine etc went down very well. The service etc from the team was outstanding and much appreciated.

 Thanks & regards

                                                         NZ Farmers Taste awards 2012

On the last weekend of June 2012 the NZ Farmers taste awards took place at the Jubilee building in Parnell Auckland.
Free Range Chef and team were lucky enough to help cater for the awards dinner and events over the three days show casing all the foods that had won a prize. Under the guidance of NZ Chef and founding member of the Farmers Markets Chris Fortune the brief for the grazing style buffets was simple, tasty and seasonal, helping to celebrate the real food producers of NZ.


                            The Taste awards evening winners, producers and menu

The first courses 
                                  Artichoke soup with a fresh turmeric garnish
                                     served with fresh bread and Dukkah platters 
                 
                                          Vegetables and turmeric came from
                                                Organically grown in Hope
                              Winner of Tastiest food producer in the Paddock: (Organic)
                                      
They grow a wide range of seasonal fruit & veges to sell direct at our local markets. have produced on this property organically since 1986

• Smoked salmon with a lightly dressed fennel, cabbage, parsley and fresh orange slaw

                                                        Smoked Salmon from
                                                             Salmon Man 
                               Winner of Freshest producer from the Water:



                                   Vegetables from Pahoia Fresh Produce
         Winner of Freshest Food producer from the Paddock Winner  (Conventional)
                                                              and Organically grown in Hope



Second courses
                                                          Venison and leek tartlets 
                                                Venison from Cheviot Hills Fine Foods
                 Winner Of  Tastiest food producer from the Butchery (primary product):


Awards dinner venison
Our venison was served as part of the main course at the 2012 Taste Farmers Market New Zealand awards dinner. We were so taken with the way it was cooked that we asked the chef to share his secret.  And when he told us, we were surprised at how simply he treated the venison. He said that they decided to keep the dish simple to let the flavors of the venison shine through. So, here’s how Stephen Weeks, the Free Range Chef (http://www.freerangechef.co.nz/), cooked our denver leg for dinner:

·         Take a fillet/piece of venison
·         Wrap it up very tightly in cling film then chill for at least 12 hours*
·         Roll it in sea salt and cracked pepper
·         Cook in a hot pan, three to four minutes each side
·         Allow to rest
·         Cut into slices and serve

*This is a chef’s top tip that we didn’t know. If you tightly wrap the meat and then chill it, it will become more of an even shape.  his makes it easier to cook evenly and to portion out the meat. 
                                This extract was taken from Cheviot Hills Website  

 
                                                                   Winter roast vegetable salad 
           with mixed color baby carrots, salsify, garlic, parsnips, thyme, pumpkins and onions
                                                   all provided by Organically grown in Hope

                             Franks sausages with oven roasted shallots and rocket
         Franks Sausages winner of Tastiest food producer from the Butchery (value added)




                                                 Onions & Shallots provided by Thanks Shallots
                                                         High Commended from the Paddock 2012
                        and rocket and salad greens all provided from the farmers market Parnell

                                                                  Fresh Broccolini and snow pea salad
                      from  Pahoia Fresh Produce and Convoy Lane Gardens and Orchard   
                                                                      High Commended from the Paddock

Other products on show and used

Highly commended from the Butchery (value added product) -  Otello's - Click here
Highly Commended from the Butchery  -  Euro Deli Meats / Cressy Farm - Click here
Highly Commended from the Butchery (raw product)  - From the Farm Gate - Click her

Highly Commended from the Kitchen Bench -  Paris Berlin,  Organic Bakery - Click here
Highly Commended from the Kitchen Bench -  Sweetree Honey - Click here
Highly commended from the Kitchen Bench    -  Naaz Curry Paste - Click here


Relishes and sauces


                                                        Relish the thought  
                                  Winner of Best food producer from the Kitchen Bench
Entries from 3 of there lines - Fig & Orange Jam, made with our own figs and oranges, Mandarin & Cointreau Marmalade, made with our own mandarins, and Eggplant Kasundi, made with locally grown eggplants from our neighborhood grower.
                                        

                                                       Due North Foods  
                                Highly Commended from the Kitchen Bench -  
with there range of Amazing Tamarillo paste, Ninety mile MILD Capsicum sauce, Ninety mile Hot Mango and Manuka Sauce





 Congratulations to all the winners it was a great experience for Free Range Chef and Team, we really enjoyed showing your products off and having a taste of them all.

Thank you to Chris Fortune for the opportunity and help. To Chef Grant Mclellan for all your contribution and help and to the 6 first year students from Auckland Chef school for your help on the evening.