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Top 27 announced for Monteith's Beer and Wild Food Challenge

Wednesday 21 July 2010, 7:53AM

By DB Breweries Limited

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Chef Eugene Sokolovski of the Abbey in Auckland with his 2009 winning dish, 'Rudolf the Russian Red Beer'
Chef Eugene Sokolovski of the Abbey in Auckland with his 2009 winning dish, 'Rudolf the Russian Red Beer' Credit: DB Breweries Limited
Chef Brad King from The Porch Kitchen and Bar in Waihi Beach.
Chef Brad King from The Porch Kitchen and Bar in Waihi Beach. Credit: DB Breweries Limited
Mount Bistro chef, Stephen Barry with his dish at the 2009 Monteith's Beer and Wild Food Challenge cook-off.
Mount Bistro chef, Stephen Barry with his dish at the 2009 Monteith's Beer and Wild Food Challenge cook-off. Credit: DB Breweries Limited

The top 27 semi-finalists have been announced for the 2010 Monteith’s Beer and Wild Food Challenge after consumer voting closed on Sunday 18th July.

Traditionally only 20 restaurants make the semi-finals before the number is whittled down to five finalists but Monteith’s marketing manager, Russell Browne, says the standard of entries is particularly high this year and several outlets have tied with each other, pushing the total number to 27.

“All semi-finalists in the Monteith’s Beer and Wild Food Challenge will be keeping their wild dish on their menus until Sunday 8th August allowing people to either enjoy it again, or try another finalist restaurant. We’ve had amazing feedback from both consumers and the restaurants competing in the competition so far. Consumers have enjoyed some truly incredible meals up and down the country and the restaurants themselves have really got into the spirit of the competition with many theming their outlet, and their staff. The enthusiasm overall for the competition has been fantastic and we’re looking forward to finding out who makes it to the next round.”

This year’s semi-finalists include the overall winner from 2009, The Abbey Bar and Kitchen in Auckland, and fellow 2009 top five finalists Mount Bistro from Mt Manganui and The Porch Kitchen and Bar from Waihi Beach.

Other repeat entrants have made it to the finals this year alongside newcomers to the Challenge such as Vinnies in Auckland.

The top 27 will be visited by the Monteith’s judging team led by head judge, Kerry Tyack, over the coming two weeks.

The top five finalists to compete at the 2010 Monteith’s Beer and Wild Food Challenge finals will be announced on Monday 9th August ahead of the final cook-off on Monday 23rd August in Auckland where the overall winner will be announced.

The top 27 semi-finalists are:

Black Salt
Auckland
Brooklyn Bar
Auckland
Cobar Restaurant
Lower Hutt
CSB Gastro Bar
Tauranga
His Lordships
Christchurch
Level 1 Restaurant & Bar @ The Kelvin Hotel
Invercargill
Monteith's Brewery Bar Kapiti Junction
Wellington
Monteith's Brewery Bar Khandallah
Wellington
Mount Bistro
Mt Maunganui
Number 8 Cafe Ltd
Mt Maunganui
Pepper Tree Restaurant
Coromandel
Ploughmans Restaurant and Bar
Taupo
Redoubt Bar and Eatery - Te Awamutu
Hamilton
Sahara Restaurant, Bar & Lounge
Whangarei
Seismic Gastrobar
Rotorua
Smith and McKenzie Chophouse
Hamilton
The Abbey Bar & Kitchen
Auckland
The Bangalore Polo Club
Christchurch
The Bard on Avon
Christchurch
The Bathhouse Tapas Bar and Restaurant
Queenstown
The Dominion
Auckland
The Porch Kitchen and Bar
Waihi Beach
The Vespa Room
Christchurch
The Watershed
Christchurch
Uncle Mike's BBQ
Wanaka
Vinnies Restaurant
Auckland
White Restaurant at the Hilton
Auckland


For more information on the 2010 Monteith’s Beer and Wild Food Challenge visit: www.monteiths.co.nz