IT was a race against time for the participants of the cooking competition – ‘Cooking Competition in the Park 2019’ – at City Park or fondly known as Youth Park in Penang on April 13.
The passionate contestants, in pairs, were battling to dish out their best in all three categories for the Open, Secondary School and Institution of Higher Learning.
It was an annual event organised by the Penang Island City Council (MBPP), together with the Penang Chefs Association and Baba Products Sdn Bhd.
The contestants had to tap on their creativity to come up with the flavoursome main dish – ‘Black Pomfret’ and the dessert based on the theme of the competition, ‘Spices of Penang’.
Some of the dishes prepared by the contestants : –
MBPP Community Services director Rashidah Jalaludin, who was the chief guest at the event, said the programme was held to unleash the culinary skills, especially students and at the same time encourage them to turn their passion for cooking into a career.
“Events such as this are meant to stir the interest as well as unlock the talents and creativity among youngsters, especially students with regard to the culinary skills,” she said during her speech at the event.
Young children were also given an opportunity to be part of the intriguing programme, where they were seen enjoying themselves making pastries (Cinnamon Oatmeal Cookies) and handicrafts.
Apart from that, the programme also offered the ‘Watermelon Crafting competition’, where the contestants expressed their creative side in turning the watermelons into beautiful art.
Baba Products (M) Sdn Bhd, Petronas Dagangan Berhad, Penang State Department of Agriculture and The House of Penang were the main sponsors for the event.
The top three winners in the Secondary School category were Nesha Adeela and Siti Aisyah (champions), Muhammad Haziq Amsyar and Muhammad Amirul Amir (first runners-up), and Fatin Nurelyana and Siti Zulaiqha (second runners-up).
In the Open category, Rosni Johari and Hasyati Ismail bagged the first prize while Lam Kam Lin and Yanti Isa came in second and Nurul Natasha Sany and Nurul Husna Yaakub third.
For the Institutions of Higher Learning category, Muhammad Haziem and Addy Timothy Juanis emerged as champions, followed by Foong Ji Jun-Tang Mei Wei and Yeoh Chun Teong-Kelven Ooi Kai Boon.
In the ‘Watermelon Crafting competition, Khairul Anuar Haizaron won the first prize, while Khairul Nizam Haizaron and Azhan Amysar Kamaruddin finished second and third respectively.
Story by Tanushalini Moroter
Pix by Revatic Govindaraju