Aramark has announced that Pat Mills, chef at University Hospital Galway, has been named Aramark's Healthcare Chef of the Year 2023.
Details
Aramark's annual Healthcare Chef of the Year challenges healthcare chefs across the country to a live cook-off during which they must showcase their culinary skills in front of four industry experts.
The competition is open to all Aramark healthcare chefs in Ireland, and this year's contest saw seven chefs competing against one another to be crowned Aramark Healthcare Chef of the Year 2023.
The winning dish, created by Mills, was vegan scallops with courgette and basil purée, confit tomato, and stuffed courgette with roasted aubergine and olive crumb.
The competition required the chefs to prepare, cook and present two portions of a main course dish in 60 minutes. This year, 75% of the dish needed to be entirely plant-based, with a focus on Irish seasonal fruit and vegetables. The final quarter of the dish could contain organic chicken, organic turkey or fish authorised by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) or the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).
Mills's meal impressed the expert judging panel made up of Amanda Courtney, senior dietitian at Aramark Ireland, who judged the nutritional content of the meals prepared; Derek Reilly, culinary director for Aramark; and sustainability chef Justin Moorehouse. The competition was chaired by Audrey Crone, executive chef with Unilever Food Solutions.
Statements
Speaking about the competition, Reilly said, "Aramark Ireland's Healthcare Chef of the Year competition is a fantastic exhibition of some of the finest chefs across the country. Not only do chefs in the healthcare industry have to prepare delicious meals, but they must also keep the nutritional values of the food front of mind - modifying dishes to specific dietary requirements on a daily basis. We were blown away by the incredibly high standards across the board, the passion for food and the diligence to hygiene shown by the finalists. Well done to all involved!"
Following the announcement, Mills said, "I am delighted to have been named Aramark Healthcare Chef of the Year. As a chef in the healthcare sector, we are continuously striving to create delicious meals that are nutritionally balanced and in line with health requirements. This competition was a wonderful way to show my creativity and try something new. I'd like to congratulate all other finalists who took part and thank Aramark for a fantastic day!"
Read More: John Cudmore Named Aramark UK's Chef Of The Year
© 2023 Hospitality Ireland – your source for the latest industry news. Article by Dave Simpson. Click subscribe to sign up for the Hospitality Ireland print edition.
