The 2017 Shared Tables Thierry Marx Career Development Award winner has been announced. Victorian Kasae Fraser received the award for apprentice chefs after beating out 13 fellow finalists.
The award usually provides on Victorian apprentice chef with the opportunity to work in Paris, however in 2017 two chefs will travel to the French city, with the judges offering another trip to runner-up Stephen Fawcett, who finished just one point behind Fraser.
Fraser is a Certificate III Commercial cookery student at Holmesglen working at Mercer’s Restaurant Eltham under the guidance of owner/chef Stephen and Ute Mercer. Fraser will spend three weeks in Paris with 14 days training under the guidance of Michelin star chef Thierry Marx and his team at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, three days work experience at the Le Cordon Bleu School in Paris.
A scholarship valued at AU$5,000 to a Le Cordon Bleu program of the winners’ choice and gift pack valued at $100 has also been awarded to Fraser, who’s winning dishes were: Diamond Valley pork rib eye with black pudding and ox tongue terrine and blown sugar pink lady apple with champagne and mascarpone apple mousse.
The judges were impressed, not only with Fraser’s cooking and technical abilities, but also her knowledge of Thierry Marx positive attitude, maturity and a firm commitment to becoming a fully qualified chef.
Runner-up Fawcett is a Certificate III Commercial cookery student working at Matteo’s Restaurant. Fawcett will train under Thierry Marx at Mandarin Oriental Hotel for three weeks.
Both Fraser and Fawcett participated in the competition last year and were placed 10th and eighth respectively.
There was a tie for third place with Sarah Cremona (Saint Crispin) and Kimberly Tang (Crown Melbourne) both receiving a two-day modernist cooking masterclass at Holmesglen along with lunch at Donovan’s Restaurant.
Image: L-R Greg O’Shea (Holmesglen), Stephen Fawcett (Matteo’s.), Kasae Fraser (Mercer’s Restaurant), Gerard Doherty (president, Shared Tables).