TWO Fiji chefs were awarded a bronze medal at the 2016 Gourmet Pacific Manager contest, in Auckland, New Zealand.

Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort chefs, Mohammed Shammer and Naveneet Reddy, were part of the Fiji National Culinary Team that competed against chefs from Australia, New Zealand and Guam.

Mr Shammer and Mr Reddy were competing for the first time on an international stage after winning the Fiji Chef of the Year and Fiji Junior Chef of the Year respectively in Fiji’s signature chef’s competition, the Moffat Salon Culinare.

Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort executive chef Shailesh Naidu said the Gourmet Pacific contest had been tough and challenging for his team.

This, he said, was particularly more so when they worked with different ingredients and in an unfamiliar environment.

“It was good to see what other countries were presenting and their food trends and it was motivating to see how the profession is becoming so highly recognised throughout the Pacific,” he said.

The Outrigger chefs won bronze for creating an entree of avocado lime cheese cake with fried cheese balls, orange, ginger shot and petite salad.