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Applejack Ōra King Rising Stars Competition

Applejack x Ōra King Rising Stars Competition

The Butler’s Head Chef Amber Doig partnered with Ōra King Salmon for a rising stars competition, fostering creativity in the next generation of chefs.

Ōra King Salmon ambassador & The Butler’s Chef Amber Doig mentored young chefs at all our venues through menu creation fundamentals, and providing invaluable training to help with their personal and career progression.

The competition was supported by introducing chefs to the exceptional quality and versatility of Ōra King Salmon, a world-class product featured in top restaurants globally. The Ōra King team prioritises responsible environmental and aquaculture practices, aligning with Applejack’s commitment to fostering a positive culture, promoting sustainable work-life balance, and collaborating to tackle industry challenges.

The competition ran from 12th March to 17th March, with the final dishes being chosen between 19th and 23rd March. The finalists’ dishes were available in the chefs’ respective venues from Monday 8th to Sunday 14th April, 2024.

The Competition

Rising stars from Applejack had the opportunity to create an Ōra King Salmon dish tailored to their respective venues menu, considering the kitchen functionality. One competitor was selected per venue, excluding management-level chefs. The victorious dishes took the spotlight in the respective venues from 8th-14th April, with sales and guest feedback determining the champion.

A huge congratulations to Bopp and Tone’s Chef Myko Sy for taking out the win with his Ōra King Salmon mosaic, selling 72 specials across the week! Myko won a private dining experience with 3 friends to The Butler Sydney with Chef Amber Doig valued at over $1000! See more here >

Chef Armando Armando from Taphouse Sydney and Chef Angus Drummond from RAFI Sydney came in at second and third place respectively.

The Dishes

Bopp & Tone – Myko Sy
Ōra King Salmon mosaic, nori, mojo verde, nasturtium, lemon skin puree

 The Botanist Kirribilli – Vien Nguyen
Cured Ōra King Salmon, mango, lime leaf, zesty tamarind dressing

The Butler Potts Point  – Irma Rahman
Ōra King Salmon Hinava (Borneo style ceviche) hibiscus, ginger, chipotle morita crumb, lime coconut crema

Forrester’s – Subash Kunwor
Pan fried Ōra King Salmon, asparagus, pickled watermelon radish, carrot puree, warm tartare 

 RAFI North Sydney – Angus Drummond
Confit Ōra King salmon, lime gel, dehydrated olive, aji amarillo emulsion, shallot chalaquita

SoCal  – Shishir Shahi
Ōra King Salmon, cured & lightly smoked, tomato ponzu, persimmon, charred bull horn pepper salsa, wakame oil

Taphouse – Armando Armando
Ōra King Salmon wontons, hot & sour soup, bok choy, garlic chives 

The salmon dishes will be available in our venues from 8th to 14th April. Make a booking try the dishes for yourself, and choose your favourite! 

Meet Chef Amber

Chef Amber Doig began her culinary journey in Sydney under chefs James Viles and Vanessa Martin. After opening Il Piave restaurant in Balmain, she sought further experience in New York City. Now Head Chef at The Butler, Amber brings her Ibero-American influences to the menu, combining experience with creativity.

Chef Amber has been an Ōra King Salmon ambassador since 2023, and in March 2024 she was supplied with an incredible 14kg Tyee salmon. This rare fish is found in New Zealand with only a handful of its kind available in the world. Amber kindly shared this fish with fellow Applejack staff and showed off her skills with a live cutting demonstration. Watch her in action here >