Parkroyal Parramatta, as the official hotel sponsor for the 2015 Good Food and Wine Show, has helped launch the event with a VIP soiree at the property last night (Aug 6), headlined by chef and TV personalities, Alastair McCloud and Gary Mehigan, along with talented Spaniard, Miguel Maestre.
Having worked in various kitchens around the world, Miguel Maestre is famous for opening the largest Spanish restaurant in Australia, ‘El Toro Loco’ and is a regular on TV shows such as TEN’s The Living Room, Boys Weekend, and Miguel’s Feasts. Instantly recognisable as chef and TV personality and as one of the judges on MasterChef, Gary Mehigan has been in the business for over 30 years. Having trained in some of London’s best kitchens, he has been running his own highly successful restaurants and catering and events company in Melbourne as well as having authored three books and is a regular contributing writer for food magazines and columns. His co-host Alastair McLeod also holds a wealth of experience including Michelin-listed, high profile and fine dining restaurants across the world. Alastair is passionate supporter of all things local, believing the closer you are to the source of your food the better it will taste and the smaller the carbon footprint you will create. This philosophy is shared by the chefs at Parkroyal Parramatta where ‘market to table’ dishes are sourced locally with a focus on simple dishes with star ingredients packed full of flavour.
“We are thrilled to be holding this exclusive event alongside kitchen heavyweights Miguel, Gary and Alastair,” said Parkroyal Parramatta General Manager, Michael Johnson.
“Our partnership with the Good Food and Wine Show gives us the opportunity to showcase our disposition for great food and provide a truly memorable experience for our VIP guests. We look forward to supporting the Good Food and Wine Show in the years to come.”
As Alastair took the reins of hosting the evening, Miguel and Gary headed up two teams, with guests Shelley McQueen (LG) and Robyn Retallick (Hanson) picked out from the crowd. Directing the cook off with a box of mystery ingredients provided including a range of herbs and spices, sashimi tuna, veal jus base and quinoa. Similar to the theme of Ready, Steady Cook, the teams then took action, preparing the dishes in the live cooking area whilst guiding guests through their time sensitive creations. Team one stunned with seared tuna with a fennel slaw and chimichurri, whilst team two amazed with a perfectly charred beef fillet with quinoa, asparagus, king brown mushroom and rosemary jus. Judges Amy La Cioppa and Emma Cosgrove were also pulled out from the crowd and asked to give feedback on the creations. During the cook-off guests had the pleasure of picking the chefs brains, with Gary and Miguel sharing their expert kitchen tips throughout the evening.
Guests also enjoyed an array of delicious bites including salmon mousse, peking duck consommé, Massaman Lamb Shank Curry and an assortment of French pastries from the Parkroyal Parramatta executive kitchen whilst sipping free flowing sparkling wine, beer, wine and soft drink.