Things are heating up for this Cork chef
Cork chef Christopher Braganza will no doubt be a sizzling success in an upcoming cooking competition.
An RTÉ Player Original, ’Battle of the Food Trucks’, is back with a bang for Series 2 to find Ireland’s finest food truck.
Once again, 6 of the country’s top food trucks are going head-to-head in an intense culinary competition in search of who can handle the heat and create the best eating experience to deserve the ultimate prize of €5,000.
Originally from India, Christopher Braganza will be representing Cork with his native cuisine from his truck Spice Genie.
Presenter James Patrice is joined by comedian Justine Stafford who have joined forces as hosts of the show to find Ireland’s finest food truck. The judges, Eric Matthews, with over 17 years’ experience working in Michelin starred restaurants around the globe and former Head Chef at Dublin’s famous Chapter One Restaurant, is joined by the award-winning pastry chef Gráinne Mullins of Grá Chocolates with over 10 years’ experience in high level, fine dining establishments.
Christopher will be hoping to wow the judges with his Indian spices and range of skills and techniques.
Speaking with the Cork Independent, he said: “I’m not just a one trick pony, I won’t be just making curries it will be a range of different food with different skills.”
Christopher has 4 years of culinary experience as a pastry chef in Castlematyr and is looking forward to showing off these skills to Grainne Mullins in particular, someone he really looks up to in the industry.
This spice genie is hoping to impress the judges and the viewers with his knowledge and expertise, not only of Indian spices, but his ability to adapt them to our Irish tastebuds.
Christopher said: “People love it! They are so open to new flavours and cuisines.”
On the show, viewers can expect to see many different tricks and techniques from the Cork representative. The freshness of his cooking will hopefully see him go far in the competition.
He said: “I make absolutely everything from scratch – no pre-made pastes or powders, everything is authentic.”
“You don’t know what to expect on set, you don’t know who you’re up against or which chef has what trick. With only 1 hour to create a signature dish, there is a lot of pressure. The interviews during the hour add an extra obstacle as I had to present myself while cooking.”
From 5 July, we will be able to 'chew-n in' and see the Spice Genie work his magic on the judges and us viewers!
“It would be a great honour for my country and my cuisine to win the competition, and also for Cork, my county,” he added.
After the competition you can find Christopher in his food truck at the farmers markets in Wilton on Tuesdays, in Kinsale on Wednesdays, and in Middleton on Saturdays.
But for now, he said: “Enjoy the show and the cooking! It’s all about the food!”