Zimmer takes risotto title

01 January 2000
Zimmer takes risotto title

EYCK Zimmer, senior sous chef at the 10th Floor Dining Rooms, Goldman Sachs International, London, has been named as the 1999 UK Risotto Chef of the Year in the qualified chefs category of the competition sponsored by the Ente Nazionale Risi (ENR). Dean Sowden, from Olivers 24 restaurant, Harrogate, West Yorkshire, took the top prize in the unqualified chefs section.

Both Zimmer and Sowden beat two other finalists in their respective sections at the cook-off that was the culmination of the ENR's Risotto Roadshow.

The final was held at Pat MacDonald's Epicurean restaurant, Pershore, Worcestershire, last month. McDonald was one of the judges along with his head chef Jason Lynas and Donata Zanardo from the ENR.

From the 50 entries, judges were looking for visual appearance, taste, texture, originality and overall presentation. Entrants had an hour to create a meal for two people.

Zimmer's winning dish was watercress risotto with caramelised lamb sweetbreads, summer truffles and Alsace bacon. Sowden's recipe was risotto of fresh crab with tomato and avocado sauce gazpacho. Prizes were £250 (qualified chef) and £150 (unqualified chef).

Qualified chef competition runners-up were Daren Barclay, head chef at Goodwood House, Goodwood, West Sussex; and Trevor Blyth, head chef, Chequers Inn, Wooburn Common, Buckinghamshire. James Benson from London's Claridge's hotel was the unqualified chef runner-up.

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