In a bid to be crowned winner of the Gorgonzola Recipe Design Challenge 2012, 12 finalists competed in a live cook-off at Westminster Kingsway College to create and present an inspired recipe using Gorgonzola cheese.
The 12 finalists, all part- time students at Westminster Kingsway College, were keen to showcase their skills in front of members of the Gorgonzola Consortium and the Craft Guild of Chefs.
Luca Corradino, Head Chef at I Due Ladroni restaurant in Novara, Italy, worked with an expert panel of judges to taste and consider each dish. The judges were Martin Bates CEO of Craft Guild of Chefs, Gary Hunter, Head of Culinary Arts at Westminster Kingsway College and Sheila Eggleston, Deputy Group Editor of Dewberry Redpoint Publications.
The high standard of presentation and creative use of Gorgonzola in each dish impressed the judges, who after much deliberation, announced the top three places:
Winner: Edgaras Lindinas, Hakkasan restaurant, Macadamia & Gorgonzola cheesecake with chocolate sorbet
2nd Place: Marzena Nowakowska, Crown Moran Plaza, Savoury Brioche with Gorgonzola
3rd Place: Israel Tortora, Westminster Park Plaza Hotel, Gorgonzola stuffed Fillet with a Gorgonzola and wild mushroom cream sauce
Gorgonzola is a high quality cheese guaranteed by production rules with an unmistakable aroma and taste and a history which allegedly dates back to the eighth century. There are currently 40 dairies and over 3,000 farms making milk for the production of Gorgonzola cheese. You can find out more information by visiting the Gorgonzola website here: http://en.gorgonzola.com/