Mountain Mayhem: Australia Day
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Chefs Kori Sutton, Troy Selby, Christopher Randall, Matt Moran, Chris âGerberâ Mathie, Oscar Carrasco and Nate King, with Jane Flemming at the Australian Celebrity Chef Cooking Contest.
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Sam Perry of Sydney alongside Australian celebrity chef Matt Moran and his daughter, Amelia.
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Aussie friends Suzy Mcgavin and Jane Flemming.
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Edwina McCann, editor in chief of Vogue Australia, at an apres event she co-hosted with friends Wally Graham and James Rowden.
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Nate King, chef de cuisine at Cache Cache, clinched first place in the Australian Celebrity Chef Cooking Contest on Jan. 10.
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Aspen 82 crew Ramona Bruland, Steffe Gatton, Brian Bitterfeld, Oliver Sharpe, Ricky Buhr and Danielle Grivalsky.
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Chris "Gerber" Mathie, sous-chef at Ajax Tavern, took second place for his Shrimp on the Barbie in the Australian Celebrity Chef Cooking Contest.
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Aussie ex-pat in Aspen Janet Black with Mary Virginia Tarver and Susie Wells.
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Kristi Kavanaugh with Aspen Skiing Company, Australian James Rowden of the Luxury Network, Mark Elias of The Little Nell, a friend and Casey Leach with Aspen Skiing Company.
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Julia Theisen of the Aspen Chamber with Pete Hayda of The Little Nell and Eliza Voss of the Aspen Chamber.
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Chef Matt Moran blind judges the Australian Celebrity Chef Cooking Contest, with the following criteria weighted equally - Aroma, Appearance, Consistency/Texture and Taste.
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Ian Purchas of Sydney with Australian ex-pat Simon Chen, managing director of The Little Nell.
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Ted and Sarah Watts of Melbourne enjoy an extended holiday in Aspen.
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Candy Sherman, Rich Burkley and Cindy Hirschfeld.
On Jan. 26, 1788, 11 ships traveling from Britain to Australia, known as the First Fleet, arrived in New South Wales. There they raised the Union Jack flag at Sydney Cove and marked the date as the national holiday, though it wasn’t called Australia Day for another century-plus. Jan. 26 is widely celebrated throughout Australia and by Aussie ex-pats around the world with concerts, festivals, sporting events, fireworks displays and more. In Aspen, which sees more Australian visitors than any other international guest, the month of January is the most popular time to visit, coinciding with their summer break from school.
To welcome Aussies to Aspen this month and celebrate during their stay, many a special event and festivity has been staged around town, including cocktail parties and an annual Australian Celebrity Chef Cooking Contest, an invitational event presented by the Aspen Skiing Co.
This year’s competition featured Australian Celebrity Chef Matt Moran as the judge. With restaurateur, television show host, author and more to his name, Matt is one of Australia’s most recognized chefs, with air-time judging or hosting prime-time shows such as Masterchef, Heat in the Kitchen and The Chopping Block.
A total of six chefs from acclaimed Aspen restaurants competed in the contest this year, each vying to create the most savory grilled prawn dish of all for the Shrimp on the Barbie challenge. Staged at the festively decorated Chair 9 après-ski bar at The Little Nell on Jan. 10 with a DJ spinning top Aussie tracks, guests enjoyed wine, beer and “Aussie-tinis,” a signature champagne punch in the colors of the Australian flag, as they sampled the shrimp dishes. After a blind taste test, Chef Matt Moran cast his vote for each dish, deeming Nate King of Cache Cache for his Charred Wild Ecuadorian Shrimp with Mango Lime Miso Sauce and Ginger/Scallion. King was pleased with his first place win, noting he now “needs to visit Australia,” having never been. Chris “Gerber” Mathie of Ajax Tavern came in second with his appetite-whetting Green Curry Grilled Shrimp, and Oscar Carrasco of host venue The Little Nell came in third with his dish, Shrimp and Citrus. Chef Christopher Randall of The Limelight captured the Audience Favorite Award for his dish, Chimichurri-Marinated Carolina White Shrimp.
On Jan. 26, “Australia Day proper,” a series of celebrations by Aspen Skiing Co. are set to take place across all four Aspen Snowmass ski areas. At 8 a.m., the Silver Queen Gondola opens early on Aspen Mountain. From 8 to 9 a.m., complimentary Vegemite Toast will be served at the Gondola Plaza in Aspen and at Base Camp in Snowmass. At 9 a.m., you’ll find Tim Tams, stickers, flags and more Aussie items at Guest Services on all four mountains (while supplies last). All day, look for Aussie road signs, flags and other decor around the four mountains and Aussie snag (sausage) and burger specials offered at participating on-mountain restaurants. From 3 to 4 p.m., Lamingtons (a traditional sponge cake) will be served at the Gondola Plaza in Aspen and at Base Camp in Snowmass. And closing out the celebration, from 4 to 7 p.m., is an Aussie Day apres-ski party at Chair 9, open to one and all.
Contact May with insights, invites or info: allthewaymaymay@hotmail.com
Bar Talk: Barraquito
On a recent trip to Spain, I discovered something that I believe tops the espresso martini. It’s called a barraquito.
