Last year I was judge and I am doing it again this year… I just thought you’d like to hear some of the things I think you need to consider…

Coming up… I’m going to blog about things to help you get ready

• hints for seniors – using different meat cookery skills for different cuts
• hints for juniors – using mince
• seasonings – every year the judges comment on a lack of seasoning…
• tips to avoid stress city – hints for cooking under pressure
• presentation and garnishing
• flavour combinations
• working methods for safety – check out my you Tube on Things you need to know so your food wont kill you
• balancing your burger to make it a nutritional goldmine

Wow I have just gone and had another look at the finalists for the Beef + Lamb Burger Competition – your standard is so high!!  I am so looking forward to seeing (and tasting) in person what you have come up with. The food looks really inspirational and your presentation is just stunning. I am impressed – it all looks amazing so I guess it is going to be down to the taste and your technique!!

Besides taste I am always am interested in what is good for me – without being over the top I want something which is healthy and has a good balance of ingredients.  I believe serving size is something incredibly important – and all of us need to find the balance between too much – which always overwhelms me and puts me off the food – and not enough  – you don’t want to finish a meal hungry!

I know the judging is going to be tough!! But I am getting my taste buds all psyched up for a total treat… burgers here I come!! To check out all the other finalists follow this link to burger heaven!!!

I have been following the progress of the Burger Competition and have got to say I am seriously impressed with what you guys have cooked up – it sure makes the usual take-away burger look a bit miserable!!! Just goes to show what you can do with great quality ingredients, a heap of thought and commitment to creating something that is totally delicious! Just looking at them makes me what to get the recipes and try them! You are awesome…

I am looking forward to meeting you – (and tasting your creations!) at the Grand Final Competition in Auckland on September 20.

Have a look at the link to see what amazing masterpieces, and talented chefs, that have been discovered in schools throughout the country! Beef + Lamb Burger Finalists

I am just back from the most amazing trip to America. I went to a Global Youth Leaders Conference and I was in Washington DC and New York for a couple of weeks.  I learnt so much and met so many kids from all around the world it was a bit overwhelming – but now its back to a stack of school work!!!

About the food though – as I have been blogging about the Burger Competition I thought it would be really cool to check out the ‘home the burger and’ see how we compare – I was looking for ideas too!!  Well guys it’s not that I am one-eyed or anything but I have to say when it comes to  food  - NZ is one of the ‘luckiest countries in the world’ with all our fantastic tasting fresh food. When I am at home I always have to search for some unhealthy food  - but when I was away I really really had to search for healthy food…sort of makes me appreciate what I’ve got!

By now you will be getting to the end of your planning and it’s time to reflect on the detail. Actually some of you have already had your competition – but for those of you still going…

Assuming your food is fantastic there are some things that are going to make you and your burger stand out…

• Are you serving your burger on a warm plate to keep it hotter longer?
• I know this sounds like your mother talking – but make sure you fingernails are clean, your clothes are totally clean, your hair is tidy and tied back (a hair in the dish will not get you extra points?!!!)
• Make a detailed list of what you have to take with you – there is NOTHING worse than forgetting either food or utensils – it will get you really stressed!
• Do you look super organised – labelled containers for ingredients, a tidy work station all give a good impression.
• Have a last practice through and check your timing is spot on.

Have fun!! catch up soon…

Years ago my uncle and aunty had a cafe and one of their most popular sellers was their Mountainous Burger. Even now I can remember this – probably because as a family we still make it! But the flavour combination was really really delicious. As the name suggested it was quite a big burger and the key ingredients were a stunning sate sauce, lightly grilled apricot halves and a succulent moist beef burger. This is not overwhelmingly original – but it was overwhelming tasty, cooked to perfection, it was beautifully presented and always left me thinking I’d like that again! That has to be the ultimate test of a good burger – would you buy it, make it or want it again??

So get the feedback – ask your  family and friends what they honestly think of your burger…

I know you will have already but check out the details for the burger competition…

This week was my mum’s birthday and we went to a stunning restaurant in Tauranga and it struck me how we eat twice – first with our eyes and then with our mouth. First impressions count! Put bluntly it has to look good; this restaurant certainly had this mastered – but some just get it ‘wrong’.

So as you are planning keep thinking of what the food will look like on the plate.  Make sure your burger is balanced and not squashed up – I always think it looks classier if there is plenty of room around the food.  It goes without saying that you need to clean up any smudges, dribbles or crumbs on the plate! And when you are selecting your garnish make sure it relates to your recipe… for example don’t use a mint garnish if there is no mint in the dish.

And of courses think about the colours… a striking combination that is interesting and appealing is what you are aiming for! Have fun!

Awesome food  needs to score top points in how it looks, tastes, feels (in your mouth) and smells  – okay you can usually  leave out how it sounds – although it you are talking apples that ‘crunch’ is important!

I’m sure you’ve had food that gets one of the senses ‘wrong’ and it totally puts you off – for an extreme example try eating mashed potato with blue food colouring and you’ll know what I mean.  Less extreme is a food which tastes good, smells good, looks good but when you eat it the texture is wrong -  gritty or crunchy when it shouldn’t be.

In your Burger Planning Pack there is a great chart that helps you assess your burger – sensory evaluation. When I am trying out recipes I always do taste-tests with a few friends and family to get feedback… (We all have different criteria – my recipes have to pass the sensory tests AND be quick and easy to make too.) So do a few variations with your Burger and see which ranks the best – a few tweaks here and there can make all the difference!

Find our more about the Burger competition.

Can you imagine how disgusting you would feel if you cooked up a meal and everyone who ate it ended up vomiting!!! (probably you would end up vomiting too so doubly disgusting!) I’ve made up a few tips ‘what you need to know so your food won’t kill you!’ – most is common sense but you need to protect your reputation as it’s not a good look to serve up food that makes your friends sick – so as a bit of insurance skim over this! The areas that need a bit of focus are the 4 C’s – clean, cook, cover, chill. For those of you gearing up to the Burger Competition  the teachers handbook gives you  specific meat handling tips… a wise person would take their advice on board – don’t want to poison the judges and as I am one of them I’d appreciate you taking note!!??!!!

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