DIT Culinary Arts student from Enniscorthy, Wexford, Joseph Roche, won this year’s Manor Farm 21 minute challenge. He competed against four other finalists from the prestigious school of culinary arts on Cathal Brugha Street in Dublin this week.
Vincent Carton, managing director of Irish chicken producer Manor Farm said: “ The standard among the students was exceptionally high this year. I was particularly impressed by the creativity of the dishes.”
He pointed out that most cooks are tempted to cook foods “that are already partly prepared so that dinner becomes an assembly line rather than an activity where you’re cooking fresh foods from scratch”. He added that “this important competition proves how limited time shouldn’t limit taste and nutrition.”
Judges included Vincent Carton, Dr Frank Cullen, Head of the DIT School of Culinary Arts and Caitríona Redmond, food writer and blogger of Wholesome Ireland.
The five finalists from Laois, Dublin, Wexford, Meath and Sweden received praised for their performance. Each was tasked to cook a tasty, low cost and nutritious meal in 21 minutes or less. The timing is based on research that shows 21 minutes is the average time a working mother has to cook a mid-week evening meal.
Dishes were judged on the basis of taste, nutrition, timing and cost. Joseph Roche’s Mexican inspired Pan fried Ras el Hanout chicken leg oyster with Mexican style mixed vegetables was the winner.
Joseph said: “ I had to keep sight of creating a dish that was nutritional, easy to prepare and also one that would be liked by the whole family, especially young children.”
All of the recipes are available to view on manorfarm.ie