Local produce shines at Celebrity Signature Dish

Western Australian produce was the real winner at the 2017 Celebrity Signature Dish competition, which put the spotlight on quality ingredients from across the state that outshone even the celebrities preparing them in a fierce competition.
A frantic 60-minute cook off between four local celebs, that Department Food Director Deborah Pett described as highlighting “the premium produce that regional Western Australia has to offer,” showcased the breadth and quality of ingredients from the Kimberley, Swan Valley, Southern Forests and Peel.
Judges Dan Masters of Rockpool, celebrity chef Anna Gare and food critic Robert Broadfield announced Channel 7 personality Mark Gibson the winner, who, representing the Peel region,  created  slow braised Harvey Beef shin, accompanied by roasted sweet potato and pickled vegetables under the tutelage of Manuka Woodfire Kitchen chef Kenny McHardy.
“I have discovered so much about the region during this campaign,” said Gibson, “I always generally thought of the Peel in terms of coast, but the more I found out…that’s one of the reasons we selected beef as the hero ingredient, the further inland you go in the Peel the more there is, and Kenny showed me how to cook it in such a great way.”
Other competitors included radio host Peter Curulli for the Kimberley region, who created wild caught Barra wings with Kimberley slaw with Chef Pete Manifis of Passion meets Purveyor, former Australian cricketer Justin Langer, who paired with The Humane Foodist’s Caroline Taylor to prepare Yabbie tail pasta with goat curd cream for the Swan Valley region, and representing the Southern Forests region, Rayne Embley and Ollie Gould of Shorehouse, who delivered Blue Ridge marron, Majimup truffle, Kanzi apple and potato.
The competition, presented by The Departmnet of Agriculture and Food’s Buy West Eat Best campaign, aims to raise awareness of the range of local produce available to Western Australian consumers, by featuring seasonal hero ingredients from the regions in each celebrity dish.
“Full marks to the chefs of course, but it was the produce that shined. Good produce equals good cooking,” said judge Robert Broadfield.