Richard “Dick” Reno has won the first round of the Chef’s Competition which kicked off last night as part of the City of Hamilton’s fifth annual City Food Festival.

A record 120 food lovers turned out to see four chefs battle for the top prize at the sold-out event held at Pier 6.

Those competing in the first of three rounds were Jamel Stafford, a culinary student attending Bermuda College, Marcy Smith (Chef Cella) of the Bird Cage Cafe at the Young Men’s Social Club, Mr Reno, of Smokin’ Barrel, and Kara Simmons who works as a consultant for Rosa’s.

Each chef was tasked with creating a set of three hors d’oeuvres to include wahoo, banana, asparagus, peanut butter and almonds.

They were allowed to add a limited number of other ingredients of their choice.

Mr Reno’s menu included wahoo sesame with Japanese crude and passion fruit, a banana blini with peanut butter and banana brule and asparagus and truffle “shooters” with almond foam.

Among the other culinary offerings on the night were wahoo pâté with bell pepper, tortilla topped with banana and peanut butter (Mr Stafford); a Bermuda codfish breakfast using wahoo (Ms Smith); and “Island ceviche” served with peanut butter, banana and mango with a pineapple sauce, asparagus and jalapeño garnish.

The second round of the chef’s competition takes place tomorrow and the grand final is on Saturday. The overall competition winner will receive $500, a variety of Kitchen Aid products and a plaque while the runner-up will receive $350 and also Kitchen Aid products and a plaque.

Vicki Abraham, working for the CoH communications department, said: “We are really pleased with the support from local restaurants — this is a great way to showcase their talent as many of the items they cook are not on their regular menus.

“We are pleased to have the support of the Bermuda Tourism Authority, which aims to encourage tourists to experience local life and looks to turn food into a Bermuda experience. Food unifies the community — it brings us all together.”