For this short three-session pop-up, we assumed centre stage as we took over the kitchen of Baycourt Theatre for the ultimate culinary showdown.

We crowd sourced three ingredients for each course and presented them to our executive chef, Shane Yardley, and ChatGPT to each create a delectable three course meal.

These brave foodies were then treated to an extravagant six-course dining experience, consisting of 2 starters, 2 mains, and 2 desserts. Then the fun began. Diners voted live for their favourite dish from each course.

WHAT WAS ON THE MENU?

THE 3 CHOSEN INGREDIENTS:

Starters: Fish, Chilli, and Coconut
Mains: Pork, Jerusalem Artichoke, and Chestnut
Desserts: Pear, Chocolate, and Almond

STARTERS

Coconut marinated catch of the day, coconut foam, pickled shallots, crispy chilli oil.

Wine match: Saorsa Viognier

vs

Scallops, wood fired octopus, coconut soubise, chilli oil, yellow curry reduction.

Wine match: Greywacke Pinot Gris

MAINS

Milk braised pork neck, salt baked jerusalem artichoke, wilted watercress, chestnut puree, prosciutto, crackling crumble.

Wine match: Chateau Garage Lulu Rosé

vs

Twice cooked pork belly, jerusalem artichoke puree, chestnut air, confit duck cigar, XO sauce.

Wine match: Wild Earth Pinot Noir

DESSERTS

Pear “Magnum”, almond praline, dark chocolate cremeux, pear and citrus gel.

Wine match: De La Terre Noble Viognier

vs

Smoked chocolate, caramelised poached pear, frosted almonds, pear and whisky gel.

Wine match: Askerne Dessert Cabernet

THE RESULT

For the first event chef won, the second event AI won and then the third and final event…the electronic votes were even. We couldn’t believe it. UNTIL 2 paper results got handed in from people who had forgotten to bring their phones. These JUST tipped the results over the edge, and the overall event winner was…. Chef!

You might be wondering, how did AI cook a meal…? Technology is good, but robots haven’t *quite* taken over the culinary universe, just yet. We have chef Will Dods to thank – he elevated ChatGPT’s quite basic recipes to a fine dining level that was able to keep the competition fierce.