Former Pittwater RSL Club chef and Squizify Ambassador John McFadden has taken out the World Food Championships in the US, picking up $US100,000.
“Exhausted”, is how the well-liked Aussie chef described his experience when asked about the win, which saw him go up solo against three teams of three across three challenges, two of which were elimination challenges.
The last challenge was to cook courses three and four from a five-course tasting menu.
“My course three-dish was ‘surf and turf’ prawns, scallops, and chorizo, cauliflower puree, roast crab and prawn sauce,” McFadden told Club Management from Bentonville, Arkansas, straight after the final.
“The fourth-course dish was seared lamb, roast heirloom carrots, spiced carrot puree, dukkah, salted yoghurt and hazelnuts.”
McFadden made his way through to the major final after being crowned World Seafood Champion at WFC’s Main Event in Dallas in November last year. He then went on to beat nine other category champions in a three-round culinary gauntlet designed to test skills, technique, creativity and time management.
“I won the final by 10 points across five judges with a score of 95,” he said.
The next World Food Championships Australia are to be held at the Melbourne Convention Centre from 30 June to July 2 and at Sydney Showground from 22-24 September.