(L-R): Top row: MRWA Member Councillor Laura Robertson-Collins, Vikki Chapman, Denise Cullen, Paul Askew, Ann Griffiths, David James Merrill, MRWA Member Sefton Councillor Kevin Cluskey. Bottom row: Jude Samson, Jordan Huyton, Devon Crowley

Winners of the Merseyside and Halton ‘Make 28 Taste Great’ recipe competition were announced on Sunday (8 September) at the Liverpool Food and Drink Festival.

The competition – organised by Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority (MRWA) – was launched in response to the fact that food waste makes up 28 per cent of all waste in area, and sought residents to use leftovers and ingredients to create ‘healthy meals with a regional flavour’.

The ‘cook off’ event for the shortlisted contestants, which decided the winning recipes, took place in August at Liverpool Community College’s restaurant. Winners were then announced in the Paul Askew Seafood Emporium at Liverpool Food and Drink Festival, on the last day of National Zero Waste Week 2013.

In each of the three categories (starters, main course, or dessert and drinks), an adult and an 11-18 year-old winner were selected, having been judged by TV chef, Brian Mellor, and The London Carriage Works restaurant’s chef, Paul Askew. Two ambassadors for the ‘Make 28 Taste Great’ campaign for 2013/14 were also chosen to work with MRWA to show how food waste can be reduced in the region.

Winners of the competition were:Devon Crowley (age 15) from Heswall
Devon cooked Cream Fields; Vegetable Soup with Crème fraîche
Winner – age 11-18 Starters Category 2013

Georgia Barnabas (16) from Widnes.
Winner – age 11-18 Main Course Category 2013
Peawack & Chicken Pasta

Jordan Huyton (17) from Southport
Winner – age 11-18 Deserts and Drinks and age 11-18 Ambassador 2013
Mersey Forest Bread & Butter Pudding

David James Merrill (32) from Widnes.
Joint Winner – Starters Category 2013
Christmas Leftovers Soup (Celeriac, Sprout & Bacon)

Denise Cullen (41) from Garston (L19)
Joint Winner – Starters Category 2013
Fab Four Bruschetta Boats

Ann Griffiths (62) from Heswall
Joint Winner – Main Course Category 2013
Whatever you make it! Sauce

Jude Samson (32) from Allerton (L18)
Joint Winner – Main Course Category and Ambassador 2013
Leftover Chicken Jambalaya

Vikki Chapman (32) from Wallasey
Winner – Desserts and Drinks Category 2013
Superlambanana Shake

The winning recipes will now be made into a new set of ‘regionally flavoured’ leftover recipe cards, which MRWA hopes will add a ‘local twist’ to existing nationally available cards used in the ‘Love Food Hate Waste’ campaign. Winners will also receive a box of seasonal vegetables.

‘Wasted food is wasted money’

Speaking of the competition, judge Brian Mellor said: “It is fantastic to see how inventive residents can be with leftovers and store cupboard ingredients. It was great spending a day with enthusiastic non-professional, home cooks at the cook off and the decision was really difficult, helped by Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority and Marketing Projects who have agreed to sponsor eight rather than six recipes.”

Fellow judge Paul Askew added: “This was an amazing opportunity to help reduce food waste and inspire Merseyside residents to cook inspirational dishes from leftovers. I look forward to seeing the recipe cards in October.”

Liverpool Councillor and MRWA member, Laura Robertson-Collins, also commented:“It’s been really encouraging and rewarding to see so many people getting involved in the competition, we’ve engaged with over 20,000 residents.

“The enthusiasm of the entrants and quality of recipes shows that residents of Merseyside and Halton are getting the message that wasted food is wasted money. We’d like to thank all of our entrants and congratulate the winners. Hopefully they, like our ambassadors Jordan and Jude, will pass on these waste prevention messages to all their friends and family.”

From October the recipe cards will be available at events and festivals, and will be downloadable.

Read more about this year’s National Zero Waste Week.