Tesco Cook-off Competition aims to find province’s best cooking family

Families across Northern Ireland are being invited to pit their culinary skills against the best in the province in a new competition launched today.

The Tesco Family Cook Off challenge, which has been organised by Tesco and supported by well-known Belfast Chef, Niall McKenna, and U105, is the first major initiative under the Celebrate Tesco Taste Northern Ireland 2012 campaign which is aimed at encouraging the public to connect with the best of local food and the passion and expertise of the producers behind it.

Complementing the wider ‘Our Time, Our Place’ celebrations running throughout Northern Ireland this year, the Celebrate Tesco Taste Northern Ireland 2012 campaign comprises a variety of activities aimed at bringing local food produce to the fore, encouraging customers to try it, while all the time supporting local companies.

Gerarda O’Connor from Tesco said:

“For us Celebrate Taste Northern Ireland 2012 is all about telling the story of relationships Tesco has with the many local food producers, large and small, whose products we stock.  By encouraging families to take part in this competition we’re hoping everyone involved will learn some more about the fantastic food industry we have in Northern Ireland and that meal times will become a truly family occasion.”

Carolyn Stewart from competition partners U105 said:

“The competition hits all the right notes.  One of the central themes of The U105 Lunchtime Bistro is food and we’re always encouraging and hopefully inspiring our listeners to expand their knowledge and tempt their taste buds.  U105 are proud to be associated with the Tesco Cook Off, which gives families the chance to combine their ideas and abilities to create a great menu.”

Niall McKenna, owner and chef at The Cookery School at James Street South, said:

“At our restaurant, James Street South, which includes a cookery school, we use only the best local produce sourced from farmers and growers from all over Northern Ireland.  We are encouraged that this competition will not only inspire families to cook together and eat more healthily, but that it will put the wonderful food available here centre stage, where it should be.

“I’m especially looking forward to seeing the friendly rivalry as each family does their utmost to make the best main course and dessert they can in The Cookery School at James Street South.  We’d like to wish everyone the best of luck.”

With £1,000 of Tesco gift cards and 5,000 Tesco for Schools and Clubs vouchers up for grabs, there are plenty of reasons to put on your aprons and apply now!

Entries for the competition close on July 29, which leaves plenty of time to brush up on your culinary skills and get the family into the kitchen cooking up a storm and practising their recipe ideas.

To be in with a chance of winning, all you have to do is register at www.tasteni.com.  Simply supply the recipe and method for one main course (which Mum & Dad would prepare) and one dessert (which children aged 7-14 would prepare).  Participants must use local ingredients where possible and the menu must stay within a £50 total budget.

Three families will be shortlisted from each County to go forward to the live Cook Off final in September, which will be judged by a local food panel, including chef Niall McKenna from The Cookery School at James Street South, with the winners walking away with the title of Tesco Northern Ireland’s Best Cooking Family.