On Saturday 8th August, the Royal Manx Agricultural Show was extra hot, thanks to the Northern Heat of the I Love ManxChef competition.
The winner, Lizia Medina Quinn, originally from Brazil and now at home in Andreas, wowed judges with a traditional spicy Brazilian dish, Coxinha, cooked, against the clock, using predominately Manx ingredients in a close-run cook-off of four shortlisted local finalists.
Lizia joins Samantha Honey-Pollock in the final, which will take place at the Villa Marina on Sunday 27th September as part of the Isle of Man Food and Drink Festival. The finalists' entries will be judged by none other than the Hairy Bikers.
Lizia’s Coxinha, a spiced mince and local vegetable-filled crouquet coated in breadcrumbs and deep fried, was made using Manx meat; she also used Manx-grown tomatoes, peppers, onions and garlic in the accompanying spicy sauce.
Lizia is a regular stall holder at Ramsey Farmers’ Market, held each Saturday, where the dish is her bestseller.
The three other Northern Show finalists were:
Chris Callow, Manx Ski’s chef, who cooked up delicious Ginger Queenies with Chinese Greens; Jessica Cross from Jurby East, whose Blackcurrant Sorbet with Carrot Snaps was a huge hit with children; and Claire Quayle of Andreas, with her cunningly flavoured 'Lively Lambs' Liver with ribbons of local vegetables.
Kathryn Sentance of Relish Cookery School provided the finalists with cookery equipment and ably assisted the cooks as they prepared and plated their dishes in just 30 minutes, in front of a large audience in the Manx Live Food Theatre.
Kathryn also challenged the four finalists with an ingredients test using fresh grown herbs provided by local organic supplier, Staarvey Farm.
Announcing the winner, after the judges carefully added up the scores, President of the Manx National Farmers’ Union, Howard Quayle confessed, “I am no great expert on cooking but I can say that I am a practised connoisseur of eating good Manx food!”
He summed up the Northern heat, saying, “When I first looked at these recipes, I admit I had preconceived ideas of what I would like and what I wouldn’t.
"I have to say that I did not think this would be my thing. But we have watched and we have tasted, and the winner absolutely won on taste.
"As in the Southern Heat, it was very close with just a couple of points separating the winner from the others.”
Eddie Teare MHK added that he was “extremely impressed with the skills demonstrated, particularly under such pressure.”
Dudley Butt agreed, saying, “99% of the food was locally produced and the taste of all four dishes was fantastic. The most impressive part was watching them demonstrate their skills without panicking.”
The recipes were judged on three key criteria: Proportion of Manx produce used; presentation and taste.
The chefs were closely scrutinised by the Northern Heat judges: Health Minister and Northern MHK Eddie Teare; President of the Manx NFU, Howard Quayle; and new political member of DAFF Dudley Butt MLC.
All four Northern finalists’ recipes are available now at www.ilovemanx.org, along with those of the Southern heat contestants.
Come and support Samantha and Lizia at the Isle of Man Food and Drink Festival on Sunday 27th September at the Villa Marina!
More details of the Festival can be found at www.gov.im/tourism/events/food_festival.xml
Pictured: Lizia Medina Quinn with her winning dish.
