Cebu City – Close to 300 individuals watched “Nutri-Chef Challenge” organized by NNC 7 thru the Media Information Network for Nutrition and Development 7 and Cebu City Nutrition Committee on 23 April 2012 at the Plaza Sugbu Cebu City. Cebu City Mayor Michael L. Rama in his message emphasized that eating vegetables is an affordable and economical way to ensure the nutritional well-being of our children.
“Nutri-Chef Challenge” is a Regional Vegetable Recipe Development Contest to develop low-cost, easy to prepare, and nutritious vegetable dishes. The recipe contest will provide the venue to showcase the region’s traditional recipes as well as show that there are many ways of cooking vegetables. The contest is part of this year’s Nutrition Month celebration which carries the theme “Pagkain ng gulay ugaliin, araw-araw itong ihain!”
The contest was open to all cooking enthusiasts. A total of 8 finalists were chosen from 14 recipe submissions to the NNC 7 office. These 8 finalists did the actual cooking of their recipes during the event. Each finalist was given 30 minutes to do the actual cooking and another 5 minutes for the plating of their cooked dish.
From the 8 finalists, 3 winners were chosen. Winning the coveted 1st prize was Ms. Regina Mercedes Lingaolingao, from St. Jude Acres, Bulacao, Cebu City, with her winning recipe Mixed Vegetable Omelet. Getting the 2nd Prize was Ms. Teresita Flordeliz, from Tisa, Cebu City, with her recipe Sautééd Mix Vegetables with Fish and winning 3rd prize was Ms. Teresa Carabuena-Dizon from Sto. Niño Village, Banilad, Cebu City. Special Awards were also given, namely; the Super Savers Award and the Children Choice Award. The Super Saver’s Award was given to Ms. Roxanne Charity Lingaolingao and her recipe Creamy Mix Vegetables with Dried Dilis and was based on the least total cost per serving. On the other hand, the Children’s Choice Award, based on the recipe garnering the highest smiley points given by the children judges, was given to Ms. Florentina Bulgado with her recipe Tortang Kapayas.
The judges who chose the winners were Ms. Josie F. Elli, Senior Science Research Specialist of DOST 7 who was the chairman of the board of judges, Ms. Trinidad R. Sumalinog, RND, Canteen Concessioner, and Mr. Marlou Almasco, Sous Chef from Golden Prince Hotel.
Before the actual program, Mr. Vicente Alcesto, Agricultural Technologist from the Cebu City Agriculture Office, talked about an alternative urban gardening, the Container Gardening.
During the program proper, Mr. Jun P. Tagalog, MIND 7 President talked about the Role of Media in Vegetable Promotion, wherein he stressed that the media has an important role in furthering the promotion and the consumption of vegetables. Gracing the event was Mr. Ronald O. Diola, City Nutrition Action Officer, who also gave the closing remarks.
Nutri-Chef Challenge was also supported by Lactobiotics Worldwide Corporation, Salinas Foods, Inc., Geltech Hayco Corportaion (makers of Meat Magic), H.W. Miller Sanitarium and Hospital, Marc and Mattheau’s Catering and Services, Department of Agriculture 7 and Golden Prince Hotel. //DFB
