Ōra King Awards finalists revealed
The finalists in the sixth annual Ōra King Awards have been announced with a group of chefs from across New Zealand, Australia, Japan and North America set to travel to the official awards ceremony in New Zealand.
The theme for this year's competition, 'Inspired by Art', has challenged the chefs to take inspiration from a piece of artwork, across any medium, and craft an edible masterpiece worthy of the being named 'Best Ōra King Dish'.
“This year's entrants have embraced this year's theme, with each dish telling a captivating story that is personally significant to its chef, while celebrating the quality of Ōra King,” said New Zealand King Salmon marketing general manager Jemma McCowan.
“Year on year, we're meeting new talent from across the world and we're thrilled to have the opportunity to share our story with them and show them just where their favoured salmon comes from.”
The finalists for the Best Ōra King Dish New Zealand:
- Antony Page – 50 Bistro at The George, Christchurch: “4 Degrees of Separation” Inspired by Inspired by the Bill Hammond series “Fisher Finder”
- Mark McAllister – Private Chef, Auckland: “Salmon Solstice” Inspired by Irish Megalithic art
- Phil Clark – Phil's Kitchen, Auckland: “Picasso” Inspired by Inspired by Picasso
The finalists for the Best Ōra King Dish Australia:
- Christopher Bonello – MPD Steak Kitchen, Melbourne: “Ōra King in 5D” – inspired by “Must Take Stock of Myself” by Tom Samek
- Jesse Mctavish – North Bondi Fish, Sydney: “Hanging Fish” – inspired by “Mungil” by Veronica Lulu Fatima
- Michael Demagistris – Polperro Winery Restaurant, Red Hill: Cannelloni of Ōra King salmon, bisque, burnt hay, red hill truffle, finger lime, smoked caviar – inspired by “Spiral Jetty” by Robert Smithson
The finalists for the Best Ōra King Dish North America:
- Jonathan Granada – Otium, Los Angeles: “Legacy” inspired by a photo collage in homage to Paul Bocuse and Anthony Bourdain
- Mia Li – Lenoir, Austin: “Strips of Earth's Skin” Inspired by “Strips of Earth's Skin” by El Anatsui
- Yael Peet – Karasu, New York: “The Sorcerer's Apprentice” inspired by “Fantasia”
The finalists for Best Ōra King Dish Japan:
- Kazunari Domoto – Garden Restaurant Holt, Shiroyama Hotel, Kagoshima: “4 Different Ways of Marinated Ōra King” inspired by Japanese Calligrapher Souun Taekda's work 愉 (happy, fun)
- Genta Mizuno – Le Printemps, Nagoya: “Mother Earth of Life – Ōra King Carpaccio” inspired by Mother Earth of Life
- Naoki Nagai – All Day Dining Remone, Rihga Royal Hotel, Osaka: “Déclinaison de Ōra King – Anna Pavlova” inspired by Anna Pavlova's “The Dying Swan”
The winners will be announced at the Awards Ceremony on 16 October at the Suter Art Gallery in Nelson.
Sheridan Randall, 21st September 2018
