The first ever Iron Chef Dominica, a Vetivert Inc. production was hosted by The Anchorage Hotel, Whale Watch & Dive Centre on Thursday Night 12^TH July as a new event on the Dive Fest 2012 Calendar. 

 

The ingredients were revealed to the chefs and the public. With the theme ingredient the “Lion Fish” and accompany ingredients supplied by Astaphans. Set up of the cooking stations were set up with the help of Sukie’s Gas to heat up the competition. The Theme is significant to Dive Fest 2012 as we seek to raise awareness of this fish which is taking over the reefs and needs to be culled. 

 

5 Chefs competed for the title of Iron Chef Dominica, Heskeith Clarke - Heaven’s Best Guest House in Savanne-Paix, Randy Prosper/Chef at Randy’s Restaurant in Wesley, Jessica Pinard-Byrne Yard - Food Enthusiast & Entrepreneur from Goodwill, Tang Bo Send/5CG(Dominica) Company Ltd in Roseau and Lester George from Grand Fond - Chef’s Assistant at Rosalie Bay Resort.  All of whom were selected from around Dominica to participate in this first ever Iron Chef Dominica, a competition to test your creativity, culinary skills, artistry and speed. The panel of judges comprised of various professionals from Dominica and around the world who have experience of many different culinary backgrounds. The judging criteria as follows: 

 

1. Presentation of Chef 

2. Skill & Efficiency 

3. Flare and Showmanship 

4. Choice/diversity of dishes 

5. Creativity, artistry and extent of use of the ingredients 

6. Presentation of dishes 

7. Taste of dishes 

 

Judges: Ronald Astaphan of Guiyave Restaurant, Patisserie & Catering Services, Erica Burnett-Biscombe owner of La Robe Creole in Dominica for 36 years, Andrew O’Brien of Portsmouth of Cobra Tours, Janice Armour Dominica’s Tourism Pioneer, Ambassador Carmen Martinez de Grijalva of The Bolivian republic of Venezuela.

 

The Chefs had 30 minutes on Center-Stage to produce a starter and a main course using as many of the ‘mystery ingredients’ and the Theme Lionfish ingredient which were revealed 15 minutes earlier. The 2 dishes were tasted & judged by the 5 judges. 

 

Competitors were supplied with the following:

1. A 2 burner table top stove, set on a table with a basin 

2. Branded ingredients from Astaphans and vegetables from the local market 

3. Hot water in flasks, water for rinsing and cleaning, and plates/bowls for service, 

4. Chefs were asked to come equipped with their tools including their favourite skillets, small saucepan(s), utensils and of-course knives and a good chopping board. 

 

Emerging First Runner up was Mr. Lester George of Rosalie Bay and the winner of Dominica’s First Iron Chef was Mrs. Jessica Pinard-Byrne Yard, Food Enthusiast and Entrepreneur.

Jessica Produce for her starter a Citrus Ceviche using slivers of skinless boneless Lion Fish, salt and black pepper, chives (green onion), parsley, white wine, fresh Lime juice and diced tomatoes served in sweet pepper cups on a bed of lettuce.

Her entrée comprised of a Pan Seared Lion Fish infused with ginger, chives, parsley, lime and white wine stuffed whole with a Pumpkin Couscous, served with Parsley Basmati Rice and Stir fried caramelized greens (string beans, spinach & cabbage).

Jessica has this to say:

“This was a great show and I am honoured to have cooked alongside some talented chefs in Dominica. Dive Fest and Anchorage brought a great new twist to this year’s activities and cooking with the theme ingredient of Lion Fish was ingenious. I had fun, I felt challenged and as I’ve said before, what’s next on the menu of life? Only life’s Inspiration can tell! For now I take privilege in holding the title of Dominica’s 1^st Iron Chef. Thank you to the organizers, sponsors and all who support me, I create with you in mind.”

For more information about Iron Chef Dominica contact Producer Carla Armour of Vetivert Incorporated at carlaarmour@hotmail.com

 

Iron Chef Dominica Recipes
by Dominica’s first Iron Chef Jessica Pinard-Byrne Yard

Citrus Ceviche

Ingredients:

4 oz Skinless Lionfish Fillet Sliced into Slivers

3 tbsp Lime Juice

½ Medium Tomato Diced

1 tsp Chopped Parsley

1tsp Chopped Chives

1tsp White Wine

1 Sweet Pepper seeded and cut in half

1 Large Leaf of Lettuce

Chopped Parsley for garnish

Salt & Pepper to Taste

 

Directions:

Mix all wet ingredients together. Separately in a bowl mixed Chives, Parsley, Lionfish Slivers Salt & Pepper together. Now poor wet ingredients over seasoned Lionfish and let stand for 20 minutes. (Preferably keep chilled) Serve in Sweet Pepper cups on a large lettuce leaf and sprinkle parsley around place to garnish.  (Serves 1)

 

Basmati Rice:

Bring 2 cups water to a boiled, salted to taste. Add 1 cup Basmati Rice with 4 tbsps chopped parsley in boiling water with 1 tbsp oil. Keep on a medium heat until water absorbs and rice is well cooked, firm but not gritty. Fluff with a fork and then serve. (Serves 2)

 

Stir Fry Greens:

Ingredients:

¼ Cabbage Sliced thinly

4 String Large String Bean pods cut in two

10 Spinach leaves chopped

2 tbsp oil

Salt & Pepper to taste

 

Directions:

Heat pan with oil, drop vegetables into pan and sprinkle with salt and pepper over top. Fry tossing often, with 30 second pauses to allow slight browning to occur. This allows for caramelized flavor pulled from the sweetness of the cabbage and spinach when fried.  Cooks quickly and vegetables still have a crunch to it. 4-5 minutes then complete. (Serve 2-3)

Pan Seared Stuffed Lion Fish

Prepare Stuffing ahead of time.

 

Couscous Stuffing

¾ Cup Whole Wheat Couscous

¼ Cup Grated (fine side) Pumpkin

5 Spinach Leaves Chopped

2tbsps Chopped Parsley

1tsp Garlic Soy Sauce

Salt & Pepper to Taste

 

Lion Fish:

2 tbsp Lime Juice

4tbsp White Wine for Cooking

Salt & Pepper to Taste

1 tsp Grated Ginger

2tsp Chopped Chives

2tsp Chopped Parsley

 

In a saucepan add Pumpkin, Spinach, Parsley, Garlic Soy sauce, Salt & Pepper(to taste) with 1 cup of water and bring to a boil.  At a boil add the Couscous and Stir well. Cover and turn off heat and let stand for 5 minutes. Uncover and fluff with a fork and let cool in order to stuff fish.

 

To prepare Lion fish, ensure it is well cleaned and fins and spins are removed Rib Bone left in tack in order to keep fish together but center bone/back bone removed.  Leave head and Tail in tack.  Salt and Pepper in and out of fish, do not use lime until cooking process is started. Cut down the back of the fish, where spin has been removed and stuff with Couscous mixture. Both sides of fish should be well stuffed.  Heat Frying pan with Oil and add Parsley, Chives and Ginger to pan. Infuse oil by mixing well then lay fish in pan to cook on one side for 4 minutes, pour half lime juice over fish and then turn fish. Pour remained of lime juice on the next side and let opposite side cook for 4 minutes. Now add wine to oil and pour over entire fish, basting fish 3 or 4 times. Turn heat off and let stand for 2 minutes and serve. (Serves 1)