Chefs sauce best recipe

Westralia dines on competition

TASTE IT: Westralia’s Iron Chef judges LS Jason Hepple finds it hard to swallow, LEUT James Malony is pleased and PO Melena Morgan looks on with caution.

Photo: ABPH Joanne Edwards

Four teams, 15 ingredients, fanatical judging and loads of entertainment.
This was the winning recipe to make a successful Iron Chef competition on the quarterdeck of HMAS Westralia.

After the unveiling of the secret ingredients and the competition rules were finalised, the clock started.

The two senior sailor teams, one from the Petty Officers Mess (OHH YER) and the other from the Chief/Warrant Officers Mess (Gourmet Plus), leapt out of the gates at warp speed.

Meanwhile, the Wardroom Team (The Sub’s Way), meticulously planned their meal, reading instructions, and preparing hotplates, ensuring that they made careful culinary decisions.

The Juniors Team (The Funcos) on the other hand seemed to have no direction, cutting wildly at the chicken and throwing ingredients together at random.

As time ticked down, the pressure became more evident, the hotplates were now on high, the crowd changed, becoming louder and more hostile. You could see the stress on the contestants’ faces. Dirty tactics were now enforced, hotplates were sneakily turned off, unwanted tabasco sauce, mustard and jam added to other team’s food. Anything to give a team the edge in the competition.

Finally the buzzer went. The four teams had to present their meal to the fanatical judges, who were hand-picked because of their fussiness with food.
OHH YER presented a rolled chicken roll. They scored high in the entertainment and imagination categories, but were marked down for taste and presentation.
A nervous Gourmet Plus was up next. The judges carefully dissected their food which was a little raw in the middle.
The Sub’s Way final meal looked fantastic and was extremely healthy, but sadly lacked something in the taste department.
Finally, the Funcos’ food presentation came as a big surprise for the judges. After a slow start, The Funcos managed to put together a meal that was pleasing to the eye and the taste buds.
The Funcos, AB Luke Davies and SMN Joseph Eugster, were the winners.

Illustrators go on display

A colourful new exhibition at the National Maritime Museum until July 3 celebrates the creativity and imaginations of children’s book illustrators.

Beaches & Beyond features original artworks by leading contemporary Australian illustrators on loan from the personal collection of Albert Ullin.
Many of the 18 works are concerned with seaside and other aquatic themes.

They include Bob Graham’s cover illustration from his book, Greetings from Sandy Beach.
The pen, ink and watercolour illustration is bright and colourful and reflects the lively narrative of the Children’s Book Council of Australia 1991 Picture Book of the Year.

Elaine Russell’s cover illustration for her children’s book, A is for Aunty, draws on her Aboriginal heritage and childhood experiences to create rich and vibrant illustrations.

Entry to Beaches and Beyond is free. The Australian National Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour, is open daily 9.30am to 5pm. All inquiries (02) 9298 3777.

 

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