Potato Lovers news

Emilia Strazzanti Wins 2006 Recipe Challenge

As the winner of the 2006 Potato Lovers Recipe Challenge, Emilia Strazzanti was presented with the Challenge Trophy and a cheque for £1000 by Paul Gayler, award winning executive chef of the Lanesborough Hotel, at the second Annual Juliette Dinner. As part of the prize, Emilia was also given the chance to work with Paul in the preparation of the Juliette Dinner.

A student of the Birmingham College of Food, Tourism and Creative Studies, Emilia’s winning recipe of ‘Salad of Juliette Potatoes, Mussels & Fennel’ was chosen from amongst 49 entries for its clever marriage of ingredients.

Emilia’s Italian heritage provided her with the inspiration for the recipe that would be ideal for eating al fresco. ‘I felt that the crispness of the fennel goes really well with the tender texture of the potatoes and with dill, mussels and fennel making a good marriage, they seemed the perfect ingredients. The citrus fruit dressing brings the dish alive and helps to cleanse the mouth.’

Emilia was encouraged to enter the Potato Lovers Challenge by the Birmingham College of Food, Tourism & Creative Studies where she has been studying for the last two years. Having completed the NVQ Levels 1,2 & 3 in Food Preparation she is off to Bournemouth University in September to study International Food and Hospitality Management.

The two runners up in the Potato Lovers Recipe Challenge 2006 were Tomas de la Cruz of Lancaster & Morecambe College with his recipe for Piquant Caribbean Pomme de Terre Salade and Sam Roth of Westminster Kingsway College with his recipe of Potato and Goats Cheese Terrine.

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