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Citizen Food Critic search: Final five candidates face off in restaurant review challenge

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Simon CollinsThe West Australian
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The final top five Citizen Food Critic candidates are Vince Garreffa, April Ooi, Mikaela Knight, Darren Moldrich and Georgia Wiley.
Camera IconThe final top five Citizen Food Critic candidates are Vince Garreffa, April Ooi, Mikaela Knight, Darren Moldrich and Georgia Wiley. Credit: Jackson Flindell/The West Australian

Close to 7000 readers have spoken and determined the final five candidates to become our Citizen Food Critic.

While young foodies with social media accounts boasting tens of thousands of followers in April Ooi, Georgia Wiley and Mikaela Knight represent the next generation of restaurant reviewers, much-loved and recently retired butcher Vince Garreffa flies the flag for the over-70s.

Cinema manager Darren Moldrich, 57, rounds out the almost famous five, which met at city pub The Royal on Thursday to receive their munching orders for their final challenge — a professional 500-word restaurant review.

Mr Garreffa, 71, said that his wife would be typing out his food critique as he “doesn’t touch computers”.

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The prince of flesh said he got “a little bit emotional” when he found out he’s made the cut but was proud to represent the over-70s.

Darren Moldrich is one of the final five candidates in the Citizen Food Critic search.
Camera IconDarren Moldrich is one of the final five candidates in the Citizen Food Critic search. Credit: Jackson Flindell/The West Australian

Last year, he handed the reins of the popular Mondo Butchers in Inglewood over to his son Robert, ending a career as a butcher spanning more than half a century.

“Everyone’s talking about how we’ve got to be back in the workforce and re-employed,” Mr Garreffa laughed.

“I’m way too young (to retire).”

The meat maestro added that he was “thrilled” with the public support for him being part of The West’s search for a people’s pundit, but he attempted to claim underdog status by adding that he expected to lose to the younger competitors.

April Ooi is one of the final five candidates in the Citizen Food Critic search.
Camera IconApril Ooi is one of the final five candidates in the Citizen Food Critic search. Credit: Jackson Flindell/The West Australian

The youngest of the final five at 21, Ms Ooi wore her Indonesian fashionista mum’s dress to The Royal for good luck.

Her mum, who has run the Wok Inn food truck with her husband for the past 20 years, has already said she will accompany Ms Ooi to her restaurant review.

Ms Ooi “literally screamed” when she found out she made the top five, and then asked her boyfriend to film the reaction again for her TikTok account, which has more than 20,000 followers.

After starting her Perth Feast page on TikTok two years ago to support local businesses struggling during the pandemic, Ms Wiley now boasts 35,000 followers.

The 23-year-old communications graduate said several restaurateurs told her they had voted for her.

“I hope my passion for food shows I’m the right person,” Ms Wiley added.

Mikaela Knight is one of the final five candidates in the Citizen Food Critic search.
Camera IconMikaela Knight is one of the final five candidates in the Citizen Food Critic search. Credit: Jackson Flindell/The West Australian

Ms Knight, 25, opened up about her battle with anorexia during her campaign to be crowned our Citizen Food Critic.

“I did feel quite vulnerable talking about what I wanted to talk about, but I was so determined to get the message out there,” the social media manager and fitness instructor said.

“It’s a pivotal part of my food journey and something we don’t talk about enough.

“The love and support I’ve experienced has been like nothing else,” she added. “That’s when it became bigger than a food competition for me.”

Ms Knight said she planned to “eat, drink and enjoy” the restaurant review.

“I love to write so this is the part I’m most looking forward to,” she said.

“I’ll definitely take a good friend along and try everything.”

News. The final five candidates to be our Citizen Food Critic have been announced. The final five will be announced in Saturday’s paper on July 16. Vince Garreffa. Jackson Flindell
Camera IconNews. The final five candidates to be our Citizen Food Critic have been announced. The final five will be announced in Saturday’s paper on July 16. Vince Garreffa. Jackson Flindell Credit: Jackson Flindell/The West Australian
News. The final five candidates to be our Citizen Food Critic have been announced. The final five will be announced in Saturday’s paper on July 16. Georgia Wiley. Jackson Flindell
Camera IconNews. The final five candidates to be our Citizen Food Critic have been announced. The final five will be announced in Saturday’s paper on July 16. Georgia Wiley. Jackson Flindell Credit: Jackson Flindell/The West Australian

Mr Moldrich said he was “surprised, over the moon and very excited” to earn enough votes to make the final five.

“The best part has been the reaction from friends, family and customers” at the Windsor Cinema in Nedlands.

As for the Sri Lankan-born spice lover’s approach to the review, Mr Moldrich said he would try to “write eloquently” with “a combination of humour, bit of knowledge without being too wanky and an understanding of food”.

The Citizen Food Critic will be unveiled on July 30.

Read more about the final five Citizen Food Critic candidates:

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