Report by: Vijai Dcunha (G-Kere)

Oman, Oct 23: MCCP (Mangalorean Catholic Centre of the Parish) conducted cooking without fire Competition – a Culinary adventure, on 11^th October 2019. Fifty-two Contestants donned their ‘Apron’ to exhibit their culinary skills in ‘Cooking Without Fire’. This event was conducted to motivate and empower community members to make a choice of healthy food through hands-on learning with fresh, affordable prices from diverse cultures. This competition was a fun learning package. It was an opportunity to improve skills & creativity in preparing food.

Community members of all ages participated with full zeal and enthusiasm as they doled out nutritious yet delectable delicacies selected post exhaustive research on the cultural backgrounds of the relevant recipes. The participants prepared varieties of dishes like Fruit Salads, Chocolate Desserts, Sandwiches, Delicious Cakes, Chat Basket, Fruit Creamy Salad, Dry Fruit Biscuit, Chocolate Balls, Mocktails, Biscuit Fruit Cake, Guava Pineapple Welcome Drink, Subway Burgers, Sprouted Bhel, American Basket Fruit Raita, Moong Sprouted Salad, Chocolates Chops Sandwiches etc.

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Artefacts and food items displayed were a visual treat and were presented in an artistic and aesthetic style. Dishes were judged on nutrition and taste by esteemed judges Mrs. Oneza Tabish and Mr Ajith Kumar. They interacted with the budding chefs to find out the ingredients of the recipes, nutritional value and the historical significance of the dishes prepared by them. Judges were overawed by the efforts of the participants and results were announced amidst tough competition.

“Learning is an experience. Everything else is just information” says Jessie Pereira – President of MCCP, in her opening address to the event. She also congratulated all the participants and boosted their spirit of participation.

In the individual category, the first position was secured by Aslita Dsouza, closely followed by Reshma D’Costa who bagged the second position. The third position claimed by Dynet Fernandes. In the Group category, the first position secured by Mamatha D’Cunha and Juliet Castelino, second position by Sunil D’Souza, Shanti D’Souza, Naveen Sequeira and Andril Lobo. The third position claimed by Juliana D’Souza, Leena Fernandes, Vincent D’Souza and John Fernandes. All the participants then distributed with Certificates by Jessie Pereira, President of MCCP.

The entire event meticulously planned and executed by the entire MCCP Executive Committee lead by Jessie Pereira as the President, Monica Fernandes (Vice President – Sports & Finance), Vinod Terence D’ Souza (Vice President – Cultural, Spiritual & CS), Silvia Dias (General Secretary), Victoria Trecilla Menezes (Honorary Treasurer), Sharon Alva (Internal Auditor), Reshma D Costa (Sports Secretary), Praveen Donald Serra (Cultural Secretary), Vikas Marshal Fernandes (Spiritual Secretary), and Merita Pinto (Community Services Secretary).

The event not only provided a platform for the participants to foster their creativity and skills in cooking but also helped them explore their hidden talents and discover new areas of interest. The event was sponsored by Minara Olive Oil.

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