Following its success in 2012 Dilmah is bringing back the ‘Real High Tea Challenge’ for the third year running.
The national competition, responsible for leading the emerging tea gastronomy movement, is open to all food service and hospitality industry professionals in Australia
Entrants are invited to create a culinary masterpiece using the finest selection of Dilmah tea and the winner will receive an all-expenses paid VIP culinary experience in spectacular Sri Lanka, the home of Dilmah tea.
A World Association of Chefs (WACS) event, the Real High Tea Challenge requires entrants to craft their own original tea-based cocktail or mocktail, create a tea-infused dish and present a harmonious tea and food pairing.
Judges Dilhan C. Fernando, son of Dilmah founder Merrill J. Fernando, Black Hat chef Bernd Uber and international mixology expert Robert Schinkel, will award marks based on the understanding of the high tea tradition as well as demonstration of different brewing techniques, creative use of tea as a core ingredient and outstanding presentation and service.
The Dilmah Real High Tea Challenge was inaugurated by the Fernando family in Colombo in 2007 with the competition arriving in Australia in 2011.
“The aim of the competition is to elevate the understanding of tea gastronomy and emphasise the importance of tea within the high tea tradition,” said Dilhan C. Fernando.
“It is evident that tea gastronomy is proving to be an important and enduring category in modern cuisine.
“Therefore working creatively with tea is becoming a necessary skill for chefs at the top of their game. The Real High Tea Challenge 2013 gives entrants the opportunity to absorb the knowledge and expertise of leaders in this field.”
Entries are now open and are required to be submitted online by 20 May 2013. Entrants will then be judged and short-listed with those short-listed then invited to a regional challenge event in their capital city to present and serve their High Tea entry. Entrants will be judged on a points system with the top three teams nationally each winning an all-expenses paid culinary adventure for two to Sri Lanka – the land of tea.
For more details including dates, full criteria and prize package visit realhightea.com.au
To enter visit http://realhightea.dilmahtea.com/competitions/index.php/competitions/australia