Erik Paartalu has claimed yet another title, winning the Cerebal Palsy League Picnic in the Park celebrity cook-off with MasterChef contestant John Hughes.
Erik Paartalu has claimed yet another title, winning the Cerebal Palsy League Picnic in the Park celebrity cook-off with MasterChef contestant John Hughes.
With fellow team mate, and 97.3FM morning host, Jo Henderson, Paartalu and Hughes came out on top in a 30-minute mystery challenge in front of a huge crowd at the Roma Street Parklands.
More than 5000 people supported the event, with mos eyes glued to the the main stage for all of the cooking action.
Facing off at against Treasury Casino chef Linda Swanson, Brisbane Lord Mayoral candidate Ray Smith and Gold Medal winning Paralympian Chris Scott, there was plenty of confidence prior to the unveiling of the mystery baskets containing the ingredients.
With lamb the main focus of the basket, Hughes led the team towards a Moroccan lamb dish served on a bed of BBQ potatoes with a side of Paartalu diced salad.
After 30 minutes of frantic cooking action, both teams presented their dishes for review by the judging panel of Courier Mail Food Editor Natascha Mirosch, Wellington Bank senior analyst and former CPL client Simone Fraser and CPL CEO Angela Tillmans.
In a unanimous decision, Paartalu-s team was declared the winner on both taste and presentation, despite some initial concerns over the salad.
“Everyone was having a crack at how the salad looked, but it tasted great,” Paartalu joked.
“It was a fantastic experience to work with John, he-s certainly an inspiration for everyone.
“To be involved in raising the profile of an organisation which does so much fantastic work was really rewarding.”
The Cerebral Palsy League (CPL) is a non-profit organisation that provides vital support and services to over 5,000 children and adults with cerebral palsy and related physical disabilities.
