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The eagerly anticipated Final Event of the Original Sushi Competition 2004 (the 3rd) was held at the Matsuri High Holborn restaurant (71 High Holborn, London WC1V 6EA)on the 27th of April 2004, and marked the culmination of an exciting process that began in November 2003 and involved hundreds of people.
Around 150 people including finalists, Judges, public, special guests, representatives of sponsor companies and press, attended this prestigious event. It began with a reception and drinks, then the competition and the event were officially introduced and speeches were made by Mr Makoto Kakebayashi, head of the competition’s committee and, Minister Plenipotentiary Seiji Kojima to the Japanese Embassy.The dishes of the finalists (7 from adults and 5 from children, selected from over 600 entries) professionally prepared by chefs from both Matsuri Restaurants (Matsuri St James’s and Matsuri High Holborn), were then displayed to be examined and admired by guests and the panel of judges, which included celebrity chef/restaurateurs and was chaired by the highly accomplished and respected chef Jean-Christophe Novelli (see below for list of judges and profiles).
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After thoroughly examining the entries and talking to finalists, the panel retired to a private room for the tasting then discussed the dishes at length before reaching what was, due to the quality of the finalists’ entries, a very difficult decision on the winners. The awards and prizes were then presented by Novelli.
The Grand Prize of 2 return flights to Japan (along with other prizes, see below for winners and prizes) went to 15 year-old Kayleigh Mort, a pupil of Gosford Hill School, Oxfordshire, for her outstanding ‘Mushi Sushi’, which imaginatively combines wild mushrooms, salmon and cheese (click here for recipe). Keyliegh likes cooking at home and was encouraged to enter the competition by her food teacher at school but, as she had never eaten sushi before, she was extremely surprised that her dish got her into the finals. When asked how she felt about winning the Grand Prize she replied that she was shocked and couldn’t believe it!
A buffet of authentic Japanese cuisine was laid on by the restaurant and throughout the event guests enjoyed drinks from the bar. All guests also received a goody bag containing gifts from sponsor companies. |
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Grand Winner : |
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Yaki-tori Sushi: Yuichiro Shirozu (10) |
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Prize:‘EXILAIM EX Z-4’ Digital Camera from CASIO; Sack of DAICHI brand rice from Tomen Foods
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Yaki-tori Sushi |
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A baker at the age of 14 and head chef to the Rothschild family before the age of 20, multi-Michelin stared chef Jean-Christophe Novelli is now to be found overseeing cuisine for 15,000 corporate guests every year at Brocket Hall, the magnificent 18th Century stately home turned successful conference and private party venue. He is also chef patron of the Hertfordshire estates renowned restaurant, Auberge du Lac and returned to the capital this year with the opening of Novelli in the City at the London Capital Club.
Comment: "I feel very privileged to have been involved in judging the competition this year; myself and the other judges thoroughly enjoyed the evening. Everyone should be encouraged to try eating and making sushi, regardless of age or nationality.In fact, inspired by this competition, and Matsuri's chefs, I am now going to experiment with my own fusion sushi at my restaurants Auberge du Lac and Novelli in the City! I already have quite a few Japanese customers at Auberge who use the golf course run by Nick Faldo at Brocket Hall where I am based, so they will be able to judge my efforts!” |
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Head Chef and owner of the popular Racine restaurant (Knightsbridge) Henry Harris is also a food writer and well-respected expert in his field. Previously, he was responsible for making the Fifth Floor restaurant in Harvey Nichols a great success and he has appeared on television programmes including 'Junior Masterchef' and has been released his new book 'A Passion for Protein' . Henry was also a judge at both of the previous Original Sushi Competitions.
Comment: "How refreshing and exciting to see European ingredients and techniques applied to sushi with some great results. 15 year old Kayleigh Mort, who had never even tried sushi before, showed so well that a little imagination can result in a delicious new dish. Her enthusiasm and freshness won her the grand prize and deservedly so." |
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Because of his delicious Italian cuisine and legendary charm and personality, Aldo Zilli’s 5 Central London restaurants are magnets for the media and entertainment industry and have won such prestigious awards as Best New Restaurant in the Restaurateurs Restaurant of the Year Awards (for Zilli Fish Too). Aldo has also published 4 cookery books, makes regular TV and radio appearances and has recently launched a cookery school in Italy and begun teaching in London.
Comment: "Being involved with the Original Sushi Competition has been a very special experience for me. For children as well as adults it is a unique and exciting opportunity that really shows how much creativity and fun can be found when you experiment with the food of other cultures." |
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Mr. Kanehiro Takase, Head Chef from Matsuri St James's
Ms. Silla Pernille Bjerrum, Executive Chef, Feng Sushi
Mr. Yasuo Ohnuki, Director General, NHK Europe (Japan's equivalent to BBC)
Mr. Makoto Kakebayashi, Head of the The Original Sushi Competition committee /Director General, Japan External Trading Organisation
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Adult Category:
Peter Tempelhoff: Futomaki Terrine
Mike John: Three Sisters
Cara Satmoko: Sushi Nero
Keith Watson: Roast Beef & Yorksushi Pudding
Kaoru Ikegami: Puru Puru Sushi
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Puru Puru Sushi |
Children's Category (up to 15 years old):
Ceri Butcher (9): Lime and Salmon Sundae Sushi,
Natalie Warner (10): Special Sushi Surprise
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