The Mystery Basket

By Sophie Gayot
 
Chef Michel Richard, contestant Daniel Agregard & Sophie Gayot

Chef Michel Richard, contestant Daniel Agregard & Sophie Gayot

by Sophie Gayot
Today in St. Helena, California, the first part of the Nestlé Waters North America “Almost Famous Chef” competition under the S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna brands took place at The Culinary Institute of America Greystone. Ten contestants had two hours to prepare a dish with the same set of ingredients, which  they were given in a “Mystery Basket”. This year, it was composed of sturgeon, bacon, asparagus, fingerling potatoes, bay leaf and trumpet mushrooms.
I was a judge, as well as eighteen others, in the seventh edition of this top culinary event. And, yes, I had to go through ten versions and interpretations of “Mystery Basket” dishes. They were all very different. There was a cleat winner, but I can’t announce it until tomorrow.
UPDATE – SUNDAY MARCH 8TH: The results are in.
See the opening party of Friday March 7th. You can see the dishes all the competitors on a dedicated page.
 
 
 
You can click on each photo to enlarge. (All photos by Sophie Gayot)