Entries for the seventh annual Ōra King Awards are now open, with the 2019 program set to shine a light on sustainability in the hospitality industry.
Run by New Zealand King Salmon’s premium foodservice brand Ōra King, the award’s the innovation, imagination and technique of chefs around the world working with Ōra King Salmon. This year’s theme challenges chefs from around Australia to draw on their own sustainability story and communicate this creatively in their Ōra King dish.
“We believe that the food industry has the potential to be a positive force for change,” says New Zealand King Salmon Marketing Manager Foodservice Anne-Marie Friis. “Sustainability is pivotal to Ōra King. This year’s theme lets chefs creatively demonstrate their personal sustainability journey.
“All our Ōra King chefs will be at a different stage of their sustainability journey. We are firm believers this is a journey the world is on together and we can’t wait to see how the chefs communicate their different sustainability story in their dishes,” she says.
This year’s Australian semi-finalists will be judged by Jason Roberts, executive chef at The Bistro at Manly Pavilion, and Ian Curley, co-owner and chef at French Saloon and Kirk’s Wine Bar, Melbourne.
“I’m really thrilled with this year’s awards theme, sustain,” says Roberts. “What drives me now is the sustainability of our ever-growing and changing food industry.
“It’s imperative that we sustain ethical values by replenishing and reinvesting in the planet, and important that this ethos extends to our kitchens. I’m excited to see how Australian chefs show their own sustainability journey through the dishes they put forward in this year’s awards season.”
Chefs from Australia, New Zealand, North America and Japan compete for one of four titles for the Best Ōra King Dish in their respective region.
Entries for the Best Ōra King Dish Australia award are open now until July 31.
Six Australian semi-finalists will be announced on 12 August, with the three finalists announced on 16 September. All local and international finalists will be flown to the Nelson and Marlborough region for a four day all-expenses paid celebration from 13 to 17 October, with the Ōra King Awards ceremony taking place on 15 October.
