Chef's Table
Saturday, 26 Sep 2009
MEDIA RELEASE
Easts Leagues Club Wins National Award for Fine Dining
A DELICIOUS three-course fine dining experience for less than $20 may sound like a tall order for any budding Master Chef, but the all-female chefs’ team from Brisbane’s Easts Leagues Club swept the competition aside with their creative menu at the National Chef’s Table Awards in 2009.
It was a major coup for Queensland and the Easts team – it is the first time that Queensland has won the prestigious honour in only its second year of clubs entering the national competition – and it was the first time that Easts League Club’s Catering Manager Shannon Saint and 4th year Apprentice Kate Cunningham made it through the rigorous State judging to get to the Australian level.
Easts were announced the 2009 state winners on 22 July and barely had time to restock the pantry before the national judges arrived the next week to taste the same winning three courses.
Chef’s Table is an annual competition, which sees two chefs from not-for-profit community clubs in each state compete to make the best three-course fine dining experience for 20 people within the set budget of $20 per person. Both chefs must do everything from scratch – from designing the menu, to all preparation, cooking and dishing plates for 20 people – in the time it would take to complete a normal restaurant service.
Over the month of June three busy tasting judges, including national Chef’s Table judge Scott Drinkwater, travelled throughout South East Queensland to nine clubs from Toowoomba to Buderim to Surfers Paradise to sample the savoury and budget savvy servings.
Clubs Queensland’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Doug Flockhart, said Shannon and Kate had unanimously impressed the state level judges with their meals, which were complementary throughout each course and highlighted delicious local Queensland flavours. But to go on to compete in and win the national title was an incredible feat, he said.
“It was only Shannon’s second time entering Chef’s Table or in fact any competition so to win the state title against some very seasoned clubs is an extraordinary effort, and proves that a sporting club is more than a match for the task,” Mr Flockhart said.
“The high calibre of clubs and chefs that participate in the national competition is impressive and for a first-timer Queensland club to come in and win it just proves Queenslanders can always come up with talent and skill when the knives, or cleavers, are out!”
Mr Flockhart said in 2010 the Chef’s Table state competition would extend throughout the state and so give many more clubs the chance to showcase their fine dining offerings and vie for the high profile award.
“This is an extremely coveted and difficult competition, and Queensland clubs have really shone in both years of competing. The highly respected Brisbane Club came second last year and this year we’re taking home gold, so it can only get hotter in the kitchens next year.”
The Chef’s Table win is yet another major award in 2009 for Easts Leagues Club, which scooped up a swag of awards at the 2009 Clubs Queensland Annual Awards for Excellence in April. Easts Leagues Club won the Best Club in Brisbane South and the ultimate award of Club of the Year for its second year in a row. Easts’ General Manager, Ms Sharna McLean, also won the coveted gong for Club Manager of the Year. The club also won Best Club Café/Coffee Shop.
Clubs Queensland is the peak industry body and union of employers for all registered and licensed clubs throughout Queensland, including sporting clubs, RSL and ex-services/ memorial clubs, surf lifesaving clubs, workers, business, cultural and general community clubs.
- ENDS
More information:
Doug Flockhart
CEO, Clubs Queensland
Ph. 07 3252 0770
Sharna McLean
General Manager, Easts Leagues Club
Ph: 07 3397 8885