Last week, I was invited to be one of the judges in a cooking competition in a province nearby Manila. We were four (4) that were invited to judge the said competition and it was very nice to know that there are many more dishes which can be done with chickens. The competition started at around 9:00 in the morning of Saturday, and there were 20 contestants mostly women and around 4 were men. The women were there, and some of them are cooks, and the rest were mothers. The men that joined the contest consist of 2 chefs, the other one was a chef for some decades already in a restaurant in Roxas Blvd., and the other one was a new chef, while the other two men were as they said were just food lovers who wanted to cook.
The rule of the contest stated that they will prepare at least kind of dishes using chicken. They were given an hour and a half each to prepare the two dishes. As soon as the contestants were able to get all the things they will use such as the chicken, condiments and all the needed ingredients to cook the dishes, they went to their assigned places. While they were busy preparing for the dishes which they will cook, the sponsors were being flashed on the huge monitors, the kind of condiments such as seasonings, which were common in many countries. I have seen also my mother using this kind of condiments when she was cooking for us. Other sponsors were also being shown while all contestants were busy preparing and cooking their dishes.
From where we are, we can smell the food being cooked and somehow I felt hungry smelling the yummy flavor of the dishes being cooked. After an hour passed, the announcer stated that there was only 30 minutes left and the contest will end within the said period. I could see some contestants cooking fried chicken, some relleno or stuffed chicken while others are preparing many other dishes out of the chicken. After another 30 minutes, the contest was over and the announcer told us that in a few minutes we will sample all the cooked dishes and then after, we will chose who we think have cooked the yummiest and with the best presentation.I thought that cooking contest will just be based on the best or good taste of the dishes, but i never knew that the presentation was also part of the contest.
After some 15 minutes, we were all given the samples of the dishes that were cooked. Each contestant have cooked two dishes. The dishes we tasted were all very good, but the presentation of some of the dishes were not really thought of so well by the contestants. After some more 15 minutes and having tasted all the dishes, and some discussion, we the judges came to a conclusion that the stuffed chicken done by the chef who was working for a restaurant that has been known for decades was chosen to be the best of all. Although the rest of the dishes were also very good and tasty, The dish of this chef from a restaurant that was located in Roxas Blvd., Manila was unanimously chosen as winner of the contest because of the exceptional good taste and the very nice presentation.
The winner won for him some cash and a kitchen showcase, while the rest of the contestants were given consolation prizes and some kitchen showcases too. Upon conclusion of the event, we were presented a plaque of appreciation, gift certificates and some kitchen utensils and condiments which we can use at home. This was a very unique experience for me. I am being invited to judge in a singing and art contest, but to sit as one of the judges in a cooking contest was my first experience of such.
Thank you.
