Press Releases
Cliftons Chef, Daniel Townsend, Represents Australia at IACC's Copper Skillet Global Final
MELBOURNE – 29 April 2024 Cliftons Event Solutions Melbourne head chef, Daniel Townsend, has just represented Asia Pacific at the International Association of Conference Centers (IACC) global final of the Copper Skillet Competition. This prestigious competition recognises the vital role food service plays in conference venues and aims to showcase the skills of venue chefs worldwide.
Daniel was selected to represent Asia Pacific after winning the APAC Copper Skillet Chef of the Year as part of the IACC Asia Pacific Study Tour in Melbourne in February. Daniel and his fellow competitors had to create a dish from a mystery basket of ingredients, including two proteins plus items from a set pantry list. Daniel's winning dish was 'pan-fried rockling with duck fat and a bay leaf crust, accompanied by charred corn and chive salsa.'
The international final was held on 19 April in New Jersey. Daniel created a Pan seared Swordfish with a Kelp Beurre Blanc, confit of witlof, asparagus and crispy Jerusalem artichokes and came so close to the win but was beaten on the day by Chef Ruth Weldergiorgis from Sweden. Congratulations to Ruth on her well-deserved victory.
"Since joining the Cliftons team 12 months ago, I've coordinated catering across our Melbourne venues, cooking for up to 600 people on any given day. I love the chance to bring my experience from both restaurants and large event catering to the fore, embracing the abundance of produce available on our doorstep to ensure a remarkable food and beverage experience for our event delegates," says Daniel Townsend, Head Chef, Cliftons Melbourne.
“Kelp is a very sustainable product that can provide a great depth to many sauces. It was an obvious choice to accompany my swordfish cutlet. Verjuice and crispy fried Jerusalem artichokes were added for brightness and texture. Together, these components created a sustainable and scalable dish that could easily be recreated in a corporate catering environment.”, says Daniel when asked about his inspiration for the dish.
Daniel is especially enthusiastic about celebrating Australia's remarkable seafood and, outside of work, can often be found enjoying a seafood brunch at one of Melbourne's beachfront restaurants. He also has a passion for cheese and is currently studying with the Academy of Cheese to deepen his knowledge of cheese and cheesemaking.
"Providing an exceptional dining experience is a key element that sets Cliftons apart as a venue. We believe catering is about more than just nourishment and work with our in-house team of talented chefs, like Daniel, to create menus that not just satisfy but inspire. We're so thrilled that the IACC judges recognised Daniel's incredible talent and how we incorporate food and beverage into creating a remarkable event experience for Cliftons clients," says Vanessa Green, CEO of Cliftons.
Cliftons is a proud member of IACC and a host of the APAC Study Tour. Cliftons also hosted the 2024 APAC round of the Copper Skillet Competition at their premier Freshwater venue.
“The competition was very close and no-one was sure which way the judges final decision would go. Dan’s Dish was a standout. Other judging criteria included minimizing waste with a goal of zero waste and maximum sustainability. Also organisation of prep area, planning, cleanliness, food hygiene, and the ability to scale the dish to cater to large groups. Competition was stiff with some exceptional chefs from around the world competing for the coveted Copper Skillet. Dan is inspired to keep at it and will be competing in the 2025 regional competition, hoping to make it to the 2025 finals in Texas,” says Vanessa Green.
About Cliftons Event Solutions:
Cliftons Event Solutions is a privately-owned business events solutions and delivery provider for the corporate and government sectors. For over 25 years, Cliftons has been the go-to destination for creating remarkable events. Bringing together spaces, people and technology, Cliftons provides a one-stop shop for all your event management needs, using our contemporary venues and partner venues globally to suit events big and small. Through our in-house team and trusted partnerships, Cliftons can take care of all aspects of project management, audiovisual, marketing, team building, speakers and event logistics. We make seamless global event planning, management and delivery effortless. Cliftons is proud to be officially recognised as one of AU/NZ's AFR BOSS Best Places to Work 2023.
About IACC:
Founded in 1981, IACC is dedicated to representing the best meeting venues globally and is, by definition, the future of the meetings industry realised. The association brings together the brightest, most innovative minds from around the globe. IACC elevates the meeting experience by creating a unique point of entry that is inclusive of the best-in-class meeting venues internationally. IACC membership is a symbol of meeting excellence and exceptional connections amongst the best in the meeting industry. This exclusiveness
All members meet a set of stringent Quality Standards and agree to a Code of Ethics. IACC includes over 400-member conference venues from Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Philippines, Thailand, Belgium, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, Canada, and the United States.
For further information, please contact:
Dimity Maratos
Marketing Coordinator
Cliftons Event Solutions
02 9250 0963
About Cliftons
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