Four of the country’s top chefs were flown to New York by Tourism Australia, where they provided a taste of what to expect when Australia hosts the 2017 World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards next year.
Ben Shewry, Dan Hunter, Neil Perry and Peter Gilmore created an Australian BBQ brunch on the rooftop of the NoMad Hotel for chefs including Massimo Bottura (Osteria Francescana), Joan Roca (El Celler de can Roca), Daniel Humm and Will Guidara (Eleven Madison Park), Virgilio Martinez Veliz (Central), Mauro Colagreco (Mirazur), Yashihiro Narisawa (Narisawa), Vladimir Mukhin (White Rabbit), Magnus Nilsson (Faviken), Dan Barber (Blue Hill at Stone Barns), Ashley Palmer Watts (Dinner by Heston Blumenthal) and Dave Pynt (Burnt Ends).
Ben Shewry of Melbourne’s Attica served his take on the Australian classic ‘smashed avo on toast’, as well as Paroo kangaroo served as ‘kangaroo on the bone’ and a dish of emu served in its egg.
Dan Hunter, chef and owner of regional Victoria’s Brae, served a series of small bites, including raw pea and lemon aspen tart, prawn, nasturtium and finger lime, and eggplant and salt grass lamb washed with sweet onion juice.
Rockpool Group’s Neil Perry grilled a selection of Australian seafood including Skull Island tiger prawns and Fraser Isle spanner crab on the barbecue.
Quay and Bennelong’s Peter Gilmore presented Australian sea urchin in a dish of uni rice, fish maw (swim bladder) and umami broth. Australia’s David Blackmore Wagyu was served raw with fermented rye and raw fungi. Gilmore’s final dish was grilled pickled cucumber with native Australian pepper.
Wine Australia matched Australian wines to the dishes including Jansz Premium Cuve (Tasmania), Pewsey Vale Riesling (Clare Valley, SA), Leeuwin Estate ‘Art Series’ Chardonnay (Margaret River, WA), Cirillo ‘The Vincent’ Grenache (Barossa Valley, SA) and Moorooduc Estate Pinot Noir (Mornington Peninsula, VIC).
Shewry, who ranked number 33 on the 2016 list, said it had been great to cook with close friends and colleagues.
“I think we gave them a pretty good taste of what to expect when they come to Australia next year,” he said.
Australia’s Melbourne city was announced as the host destination for The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2017 at a special dinner for the world’s best chefs and restaurateurs held in New York on the eve of this year’s awards ceremony, which saw Massimo Bottura’s Osteria Francescana claim the top spot.
