28th April 2021
FOOD & WINE - Wednesday March 24, 2021 By Lisa Rockman
Talent runs in family
Matthew Mirosevich is the winner of this year’s Brett Graham Scholarship. The Signal Box chef cooked off against fellow finalists Jayden Dann (EXP. Restaurant) and Samuel McKinnon (Muse Restaurant) last Wednesday at TAFE NSW Hamilton ……..
Mirosevich has worked in several high-profile restaurants - including Restaurant Mason and Quay Restaurant - and is passionate about Japanese cuisine, butchery and breaking down whole carcasses. He says he would like to work in London and "see where that takes him", and eventually return to his home town of Newcastle to open his own restaurant.
Big brother George had this to say when I asked him (tongue in cheek) if he had taught Matthew everything he knows. “I can’t say I’ve taught him everything he knows, he’s had some great mentors along the way. That’s not to say there haven’t been lots of ‘after service calls’ for advice or to blow off some steam” George replied.
“I’m very proud of Matthew and his commitment to the scholarship, I’ve had the pleasure of watching him grow into a more mature, considerate and well-rounded chef the past eight months while working at Signal Box.
“This year I was able to see a different side of Matthew who proved that he has learned what it takes to win the scholarship, looking past what was directly in front of him and having eyes for the rest of the kitchen”.
Link to Newcastle Herald Full Article
NEWCASTLE LIVE Friday 19th March 2021
Apprentice chef Matthew Mirosevich takes out 2020 Brett Graham Scholarship
Apprentice chef Matthew Mirosevich is bound for London after taking out top honours in the 2020 Brett Graham Scholarship.
Shortlisted from a group of seven apprentice chefs, Matthew was joined by fellow finalists Jayden Dann from EXP Restaurant and Samuel McKinnon from Muse Restaurant at a final cook-off showdown at Hamilton TAFE this week where the hopefuls were tasked with designing and cooking a menu based on ingredients selected by Brett Graham.
And in the end, it was Matthew’s entree of beetroot salad with a whipped onion, pancetta and fennel goat’s curd, a chicken ballotine main and prune and custard tart with cardamom and orange zest ice cream that won the judges hearts and palettes.
“It’s just amazing,” Matthew said of his win. “It’s just such a great foot in the door,” Matthew, who is currently learning his trade at The Signal Box said.
The scholarship, a collaboration between the Hunter TAFE Foundation and the Hunter Culinary Association is names after one of TAFE NSW’s most successful alumni and former Novocastrian Brett Graham.
Link to Newcastle Live Full Article
WEEKENDER FOOD & DRINK - Saturday March 20, 2021 By Lisa Rockman
Scholarship becomes a family affair
MATTHEW Mirosevich is one step closer to realising his restaurant dream, having been crowned the winner of the 2021 Brett Graham Scholarship.
The Signal Box chef cooked off against fellow finalists Jayden Dann (EXP. restaurant) and Samuel McKinnon (Muse Restaurant) on Wednesday night at TAFE NSW Hamilton.
Mirosevich's brother, George, head chef and co-owner of Signal Box, won the same scholarship in 2013.
The $10,000 scholarship, offered annually by TAFE NSW and the Hunter Culinary Association, gives Mirosevich the opportunity to work alongside Michelin-starred chef Brett Graham at his restaurant The Ledbury in Notting Hill.
Graham, as always, set the brief. Contestants had to produce an entree (a warm beetroot salad using different varieties of beetroots, accompanied by various sorrels), a main (leg of chicken filled, poached and roasted, garnished with mashed potatoes, truffle oil, mushrooms and celery) and a dessert (custard tart, blind baked pastry case with a layer of prune).
Link to Newcastle Herald Full Article
Spring is upon us. A beautiful time in the Hunter region when we experience the stunning colour of budburst and the wonderful abundance of fresh produce. We are excited to announce our September promotion – “Hunter on a Plate”. For every day during the month of September, we will be sharing seasonal recipes, culinary delights and special treats from the kitchens, cellars and pantries of our wonderful members.
See our daily post HERE
Giovanni Pilu was guest chef at Hunter Culinary Association's autumn seasonal lunch
The unforgettable tastes of regional Italy were the enjoyed by guest at our (HCA) Autumn Lunch. Sardinian chef Giovanni Pilu demonstrated the art of authentic pasta-based cooking in the masterclass. This was followed by a beautiful 3 course lunch with matching wines at Bistro Molines.
Thank you to all members who attended this great day. See our gallery for pics.
It was a gastronomicbattle to be remembered when four of the country’s best up-and-coming chefs went head-to-head in the kitchen on Monday for the Hunter Culinary Association’s (HCA) annual Food Fight.
Each had previously shared the honour of cooking beside the legendary Brett Graham at his acclaimed London Michelin-starred restaurant The Ledbury, but there could only be one winner among the alumni and on the day, this year’s title went to Thomas Boyd for his milk parfait, macadamia, honey and thyme dessert.
The annual Food Fight is the HCA’s signature event and this year’s – the tenth - certainly did not disappoint. It was a clash of champions that saw chefs’ Eilish Maloney (Formerly Saint Peter Paddington), Thomas Boyd (Margan), Troy Crisante (Quay Restaurant) and George Mirosevich (Restaurant Mason) muster their skills in the kitchen in an attempt to woo diners and take home the prestigious honour.
More than 320 guests were served an incredible four-course lunch at the event, with the chefs pulling out all stops to create a dish of their choice.
The first course was created by Eilish, who served dry aged snapper, last season’s birch fermented tomatoes and preserved lemon. Troy’s dish was the second course, a stunning nduja with peas and black olive. The third course created by George was a delicious roast and braised lamb with garlic and Jerusalem artichoke; and dessert was Thomas’s mouth-watering milk parfait, macadamia, honey and thyme.
HCA Chairman Gus Maher said the standard of the Food Fight was ‘incredible’.
‘The quality of the food presented by each of the chefs was impressive,’ he said.
‘What’s extra special about this event is that it not only gives chefs a forum to showcase their talents, but the Food Fight auction we hold on the day also raises money for our range of scholarships. The Brett Graham Scholarship is one of those, providing a young chef the opportunity to work with Brett Graham at The Ledbury – an incredible experience shared by each of today’s chefs.’
‘Once again, we were overwhelmed by the generosity of members and guests at the event which will change the course of an aspiring chef’s career by giving them the opportunity of a lifetime.
Another winner on the day was renowned Hunter Valley restaurateur Andrew Wright of The Cellar Restaurant and The Wood Restaurant. Andrew is a passionate advocate for the Hunter culinary industry and was one of the co-founders of the Association. He was recognised and awarded with the highest honour of Outstanding Contribution by an Individual.
Four top chefs go head-to-head in the Hunter Valley Food Fight this month
ERINA STARKEY - June 12, 2023
FOOD FIGHT!
The annual Hunter Valley Food Fight will return to the Crown Plaza on June 27. Who will win? With top talent secured for both sides, it’s still too early to call.
The annual event sees two highly regarded chefs from the Hunter Valley take on two top names from outside the region in the ultimate culinary showdown of city versus country.
In the city corner, we have Jason Dean, Head Chef of O Bar & Dining and Sarah Knights, former Head Chef of Automata.
Over in the country corner, we have Jake Deluca, Head Chef at Flotilla in Newcastle, and Richmond Rodrigues, Head Chef at Muse in Pokolbin. Both restaurants were ranked 76th and 26th respectively in the delicious 100 in 2022.
The event has a long history of drawing top talent from across Australia, with Mitch Orr, Frank Fawkner, Joel Bickford and Alex Prichard taking part in previous years.
The day will kick off at 11am with entertainment and canapes, followed by a four-course meal, paired with Hunter Valley wines and beers. Each chef will prepare one course each, with diners voting on the winner at the conclusion of the lunch.
Last year’s event was a sell-out success and this year is expected to be the same. Hunter Culinary Chairman Gus Maher commented “Having sold out the event to 350 people in 2022, we’re again expecting a really strong response [this year]. It’s a super event for our region and the hospitality industry at large, bringing camaraderie and talent together in a way that makes us as an association so proud of what we do to promote and nurture young hospitality industry talent through our extensive suite of scholarships.”
What happens when four of this country’s young gun chefs – all of who have cooked alongside Brett Graham at The Ledbury in London – sharpen their knives and go head-to-head in the kitchen?
The annual Food Fight is the signature event organised by the Hunter Culinary Association (HCA) and is a highly-anticipated occasion on the Hunter’s culinary calendar. This year’s clash promises to be as thrilling as ever, with the chefs working their magic and creating a dish of their choice to take out the prestigious title. Each chef will prepare one lunch course matched with a Hunter Valley wine. Guests will then vote for their preferred dish at the conclusion of lunch.
The chefs are: Thomas Boyd (Margan); Troy Crisante (Quay Restaurant); George Mirosevich (Restaurant Mason) and Eilish Maloney, formerly of Saint Peter;
HCA Chairman Gus Maher said the tenth annual Food Fight was set to be an ‘unforgettable gourmet event’, once again hosted by the inimitable duo Colin Fassnidge and Matt Kemp, who are longtime supporters of the Hunter Culinary Association.
‘Each of these talented chefs have trained under the legendary Brett Graham at his acclaimed London Michelin-starred restaurant, so guests will be dining at an incredibly high standard,’ Mr Maher said.
‘That is extra special as the Food Fight, and its signature auction supports our region’s young chefs by giving them the opportunity to work with Brett in London through the Brett Graham Scholarship which we undertake in conjunction with TAFE NSW.’
HCA Chairman Gus Maher says the Food Fight has allowed the Brett Graham scholarship to grow, but most notably allow the overall HCA scholarship program to expand benefitting the career development of many young chefs.
‘The key objective of the HCA is to provide scholarship opportunities to develop the careers of young and aspiring chefs and apprentices.
The Hunter Culinary Association Food Fight lunch attracts large industry support, but is also open for members of the public to attend and immerse themselves in this special food experience.
Date: Monday 17 June 2019
Time: 11am
Location: Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley, Pokolbin.
Cost: $175 for HCA members, $195 for non-members and $90 for apprentice chefs
Bookings: mail@hunterculinary.com.au