{"id":5933,"date":"2024-10-25T03:17:44","date_gmt":"2024-10-25T03:17:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/restaurantnews.co.uk\/?p=5933"},"modified":"2024-10-25T03:17:44","modified_gmt":"2024-10-25T03:17:44","slug":"sodexo-name-winners-in-food-of-black-origin-competition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/restaurantnews.co.uk\/?p=5933","title":{"rendered":"Sodexo name winners in Food of Black Origin competition"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sodexo UK & Ireland has announced the two winners of its inaugural Food of Black Origin Competition. This cooking competition, organized by Sodexo\u2019s Origins employee network in partnership with Sodexo\u2019s culinary community, was designed to celebrate Black culture and cuisine in honor of Black History Month.<\/p>\n

The competition welcomed all Sodexo employees in the UK and Ireland, featuring two categories: novice and professional. Participants were tasked with creating a complete dish inspired by Black culture, adhering to specific guidelines.<\/p>\n

For the novice category, contestants had to ensure the protein component of their dish\u2014whether it be meat, sustainable fish, or a plant-based option\u2014did not exceed 120g.<\/p>\n

In the professional category for Sodexo chefs, the challenge was to prepare a dish that included a main course and two sides, all rooted in Black cultural traditions, with the same protein limit of 120g.<\/p>\n

The live final took place at Manchester\u2019s renowned cookery school and event space, Food Sorcery, where six finalists\u2014two novices and four professionals\u2014competed in a highly competitive cook-off, showcasing exceptional skills and creativity.<\/p>\n

Novice winner: Akeira Beckford, Commis Chef, Health & Care<\/strong><\/p>\n


\nCaption: Akeira Beckford<\/em><\/p>\n

Professional winner: Keith Piggot, Craft Development Chef, Corporate Services<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Keith
\nCaption: Keith Piggot<\/em><\/p>\n

Both chefs were commended for their remarkable culinary talents by the judging panel, which included Ben Dutson, Food Innovation Director at Sodexo Live!, Debbie Hinckson, Head of Sales & Marketing at The Good Eating Company, and Rayna Miller, Director of Employee & Change Communications at Sodexo UK & Ireland.<\/p>\n

Akeira\u2019s standout dish was Brown Stew Jackfruit Bakes, a Caribbean-style dumpling filled with brown stew jackfruit, accompanied by plantain and coleslaw. The judges appreciated its simplicity, authenticity, and flavor, emphasizing her intent to highlight the versatility of jackfruit rather than merely offering a meat substitute.<\/p>\n

In the professional category, Keith Piggot impressed the judges with his Pulled Goat Rolex, a chapati filled with a vegetable omelette and pulled goat shoulder, inspired by his experiences in Uganda. His dish beautifully captured the vibrant flavors and textures associated with Ugandan street food.<\/p>\n

Debbie Hinckson highlighted the awe she felt witnessing the confidence of each competitor, particularly the novices, and expressed how the authenticity of their stories shone through in their dishes. She noted this competition as a vital platform to elevate discussions around food of Black origin and to inspire future culinary creations within Sodexo and The Good Eating Company across the UK and Ireland.<\/p>\n

Akeira\u2019s prize includes a stay at the Scarlett Barn in Devon, generously provided by competition sponsor The Black Farmer, along with a food hamper. Keith, as the professional winner, will enjoy an exclusive experience thanks to Sodexo Live!<\/p>\n

Rayna Miller commended the diverse culinary skills displayed by Sodexo chefs, expressing a personal connection to the importance of seasoning in her culinary heritage. She encouraged her colleagues to remain engaged, get involved, and participate in next year\u2019s event.<\/p>\n

Sodexo\u2019s Origins network fosters a culture of inclusivity, encouraging employees from various backgrounds to come together and contribute toward creating an equitable workplace where everyone feels a sense of belonging and purpose.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sodexo UK & Ireland has announced the two winners of its inaugural Food of Black Origin Competition. This cooking competition, organized by Sodexo\u2019s Origins employee network in partnership with Sodexo\u2019s culinary community, was designed to celebrate Black culture and cuisine in honor of Black History Month. The competition welcomed all Sodexo employees in the UK […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5934,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-5933","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-restaurant-news-uk"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/restaurantnews.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5933"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/restaurantnews.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/restaurantnews.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/restaurantnews.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/restaurantnews.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5933"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/restaurantnews.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5933\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/restaurantnews.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5934"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/restaurantnews.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5933"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/restaurantnews.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5933"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/restaurantnews.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5933"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}