Lakewood Ranch chef takes first round in World Food Championship
Lakewood Ranch chef takes first round in World Food Championship
KISSIMMEE -- A fresh and healthy ceviche recipe has made Lakewood Ranch chef Louis Robinson a winner on a worldwide stage.
Robinson, 31, was named the winner Friday of the "Healthy, Fast, 'Fresh From Florida' Challenge." The recipe contest, sponsored by the Florida Department of Health and Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, challenged Floridians to quickly create healthy meals using Fresh From Florida fruits and vegetables.
The recipe challenge is part of the World Food Championships being held in Kissimmee. As a recipe division winner, Robinson moves on to compete against winners in eight other categories for a $100,000 grand prize.
Each recipe entered in the competition was required to be less than 500 calories, include at least three colors, be low in sodium, contain at least two Fresh From Florida fruits or vegetables and one source of protein and take no more than five minutes to cook. All submissions were also required to be original.
According to a press release from the department of health, Robinson's Florida Fresh Aqua Chile took the first-place prize at the competition.
Robinson's recipe, Aqua Chile, is a signature ceviche he's made for clients in his private chef business. The shrimp is "barely kissed to a hot pan," he said, and is then soaked in lime juice and hot chile to finish cooking. Robinson and two other chefs, Rochelle Vincent of Oviedo, northeast of Orlando, and Sherri Williams of Crestview, in the Panhandle, were selected from a pool of 25 chefs from Florida.
Williams placed second in the competition with her Poached Chicken and Carambola Rice Bowl. Vincent's Citrus Shrimp Lettuce Wrap recipe placed third.
Robinson launched his pop-up restaurant and menu consulting business, Spice, in January. He previously worked as a prep chef at Whole Foods in Sarasota and as a chef de cuisine at the Arts and Eats Restaurant in Bradenton's Village of the Arts.
Robinson's recipe can be found at http://newsroom.doh.state.fl.us/wp-content/uploads/newsroom/2015/11/FL-Fresh-Agua-Chile.pdf.
This story was originally published November 6, 2015 at 5:17 PM with the headline "Lakewood Ranch chef takes first round in World Food Championship ."