Jimmy McHugh takes out the title of Top Chef 2008

Top Chef Challenge Winner 2008

The Mountain Fresh Festival, which ran from the 18^th – 23^rd of July, was a great success yet again with a varied program of events and great attendance throughout. The festival events spanning over Hotham and Dinner Plain showcased the great food and wine this region has to offer. Highlights included the Taste Alpine event at Hotham Central which demonstrated the range of wines available in the area and the Master Classes run by Alpine Valley Producers which featured the wonderful local produce we are lucky enough to have on our doorstep.

As part of the festial this year, we ran the Top Chef Challenge for the first time. Mountain chefs at Hotham and Dinner Plain were challenged to create a Mountain Fresh dish using local produce. Guests to the restaurants were then invited to sample and critique our chefs’ dishes. Each dish was available for the duration of the festival. All participating critics were entered into the Mountain Fresh prize draw to win a goodie bag full of wine and produce from the Alpine Valleys.

The Mountain Fresh Festival Committee would like to announce that James 'Jimmy' McHugh from The White Room at Hotham has been crowned the Top Chef 2008 with his delicious dish ‘Assiet of Harrietville Trout’. Congratulations to Jimmy, Rhett and the team for a delicious, well presented and local dish complimented by excellent wait service. All diners rated the dish very highly for all criteria and the accompanying explanation and knowledge of the local produce used by the wait staff was outstanding. 

Hamish Nugent from Tsubo in Dinner Plain is also highly commended. The overall rating for Tsubo’s dish was of a very high standard as well. 

Overall, every single business rated well, and each chef should be very proud. Thank you to all the venues for your participation, the entire competition was exceptional.

Congratulations also to David Bretherton, who won the prize draw full of local goodies. Thanks to all participating critics!

As Top Chef 2008, The White Room received a trophy and Jimmy received a bag of local produce from Mt Buffalo Olives, as well as the prestigious title of Chef of the Year!