In order to enter, this year’s entrants must design two free-from world inspired dishes that use Uncle Ben’s Professional and Dolmio Professional foodservice products.
The first dish can be a starter or dessert, and the second dish, a main course. Students can be as inventive as they wish with their dishes so long as they are suitable for at least one free-from diet and take inspiration from at least one cuisine.
Alison Smith, global product developer for Mars Food, said: “With greater awareness of healthy eating amongst consumers, free-from dishes are no longer niche items on a menu only suited to those with an allergy or intolerance. Instead, lifestyle conscious consumers are opting for free-from dishes out of choice.
“This rise in demand has forced chefs to re-think their menus to offer a more diverse range of globally inspired free-from dishes. In light of this, the next challenge infuses the booming free-from trend with the diverse theme of world foods. We believe that this synergised theme will engage a wide range of students thanks to the fact that both of these trends have largely being driven by consumers their age.”
A panel of judges will paper-judge each entry, shortlisting the best ‘free-from world menus’.
These entrants will then be invited to attend the Grand Final Cook-Off, taking place at the HRC - held at the ExCel, London in March 2020.
The live Grand Final will give students the opportunity to present their culinary skills in front of a host of industry professionals, as they battle it out for the title of ‘best starter or dessert’, ‘best main course’ and ‘best free-from world menu.’
The winner of each category will receive £200 of amazon vouchers to spend on professional catering equipment, with the winner of the ‘best free-from world menu’ receiving £400 of Amazon Vouchers as well as a behind-the-scenes experience at a top UK restaurant.
For more information or if you’d like to receive the 2020 challenge entry pack, email: cateringchallenge@rlpltd.co.uk.