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Judging Insights from Cooking Competition

Feb 27, 2025

Lecture Notes on Cooking Competition Judging

Introduction

  • Judges: David Myers and Stephanie Izard, Nancy Silverton, and Curtis Stone.
  • Focus on evaluating contestants' dishes.

Round 1: Judging by David Myers

  • Contestant: Dafne

    • Dish: Huevo raviolo with ricotta, cacio e pepe, brown butter, and crispy prosciutto.
    • Feedback: Beautiful presentation, perfect yolk.
    • Score: 10/10.

  • Contestant: Alex

    • Dish: Prawn fritter with jalapenos, garlic, caviar, and chives.
    • Feedback: Fanciest hush puppy but lacking strong prawn flavor.
    • Score: 8/10.

  • Contestant: Alejandro

    • Dish: Uni pasta with uni butter, cream, glazed uni, and furikake.
    • Feedback: Decadent, excellent use of uni.
    • Score: 9/10.

Round 2: Judging by Stephanie Izard

  • Contestant: Alejandro

    • Dish: Roasted chicken with baby squash and black truffle potato puree.
    • Feedback: Simple home-style cooking, well-seasoned.
    • Score: 9/10.

  • Contestant: Alex

    • Dish: Mayonnaise and honey mustard chicken breast with buttermilk fried chicken and hot pepper jelly.
    • Feedback: Good seasoning on one side, lacking on the other.
    • Score: 8/10.

  • Contestant: Dafne

    • Dish: Chicken puttanesca with tableside pour.
    • Feedback: Elevated classic dish, great presentation.
    • Score: 9/10.

Round 3: Judging by Nancy Silverton

  • Contestant: Alex

    • Dish: Carolina Gold rice congee with miso-cured salmon and kimchi mayonnaise.
    • Feedback: Visually appealing and delicious.
    • Score: 10/10.

  • Contestant: Dafne

    • Dish: Potato-crusted halibut with champagne beurre blanc and caviar.
    • Feedback: Elegantly cooked fish, beautifully done.
    • Score: 10/10.

  • Contestant: Alejandro

    • Dish: Sea bream with Thai green curry and king trumpet mushrooms.
    • Feedback: Delicious flavors, well-executed.
    • Score: 10/10.

Round 4: Judging by Curtis Stone

  • Contestant: Dafne

    • Dish: Wagyu New York steak with salsify puree and Amarone wine jus.
    • Feedback: Perfectly cooked steak but puree needed more seasoning.
    • Score: TBD.

  • Contestant: Alex

    • Dish: Pan-seared New York strip with farrotto and charred cabbage.
    • Feedback: Immaculate cooking, complimented flavors.
    • Score: TBD.

  • Contestant: Alejandro

    • Dish: Dukkah-crusted American Wagyu strip with Calabrian chile yogurt and herb salad.
    • Feedback: Excellent execution, steak is hero of the dish.
    • Score: TBD.

Full transcript