Michelin star Chef Anton Mosimann guest judges at national 'Kiwi Kids Can Cook' competition

One of the world's most celebrated chefs has given some of our top young Kiwi cooks a day they'll never forget.

Chef Anton Mosimann OBE is in Auckland to judge the Nestlé Toque D'Or competition. Today the Swiss Michelin-starred celebrity chef presented awards to the country's top Junior and Senior champions at the “Kiwi Kids Can Cook” final showdown, at the NZ Hospitality Championships at ASB Showgrounds in Auckland. Chef Mosimann judged competitors on their vegetable-inspired dish.

The winner of the Junior Championship was Jordin Wilson from Auckland, who created a Roasted Jerusalem Artichoke, Yam & Almond Soup with Pan-Fried Prawn and Herb Oil. The winner of the Senior Championships was Brooke Rogers from Auckland, who made Spiced Rhubarb, Coconut Yoghurt and Hazelnut Praline.

Chef Mosimann says he was very pleased to see such a high calibre of talent and food knowledge displayed by the young New Zealand finalists. "It was a fantastic competition. I am so impressed with the quality and innovation the children showed in such a short time," he says. "My congratulations to all the children who competed today. These are the New Zealand chefs of our future."

Regional finalists from across New Zealand took part in the competition, in which primary school children (Years 1-8) cooked their favourite dish containing at least one New Zealand-grown vegetable. Although parents and caregivers were allowed to help with set-up and pack-down, once the clock started ticking, the kids had to do everything on their own, using just two gas burners and a microwave.

Contestants had a cooking time limit of 30 minutes in which to make their dish while judges evaluated their knife and cookery skills. At the end of the competition, contestants presented their dish on a single plate. This was taken up to the judges' table, where presentation and taste was evaluated.

NZ Chefs Association Executive Janine Quaid, says, "The competition is designed to encourage kids to learn the important skills required to cook healthy meals. This is the first time we have had a celebrity chef of such a high calibre to assist. It's been very special for the contestants to meet someone as celebrated in the food world as Chef Mosimann."

“Vegetables.co.nz encourages kids to cook and eat healthy meals by including fresh New Zealand vegetables as a key component in this competition," says Pip Duncan, Education and Marketing Manager for Vegetables.co.nz. "Learning to cook a healthy meal is an invaluable life skill and these competitors are our culinary stars of the future. The dishes these young kids are cooking are amazing and It’s wonderful to see the support they are receiving from their parents.”

The Vegetables.co.nz team promotes fresh New Zealand grown vegetables and is supported by New Zealand commercial vegetable growers. Vegetables.co.nz works in close partnership with the Heart Foundation with the aim that every Kiwi kid will be able to cook a healthy meal in the school setting by the end of Year 8.

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