Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Won YOUNG CHEF -- SECOND PRIZE

Hey.... I won the YOUNG CHEF 2nd Title on 17th May 2013, at Nandambakkam Trade Centre.

The Competition was sponsored by Gold Winner and the Media partners were Chutti TV & Chutti Vikatan.

The Theme for the Competition was veg Starters.

It all happened just like that.

We went to Chennai the day before (16th May 2013).... While browsing the Newspaper the next morning, Chithi asked us to visit the Chennai Trade Centre, as they have organised Kids Only -The Carnival there.... Later she read out the events in that Ad.... I shouted Let me participate in the Young Chef Competition.... She said amma to register my name.... Amma tried calling ... no one picked up the phone...

Later I went to play with Sathvi.... We totally forgot the whole episode..... By 11.30 am, amma remembered this event again and called the person incharge of this to know more about this event. The person incharge told amma that its about "Veg Starters' ... Have to bring all the ingredients except oil, vessels & stove, as they would give it there and asked amma to bring a little amount of oil for safer side. She asked us to come by 3 pm sharp.

Its almost 12pm... Amma said its almost time up & we have to decide on the recipe... & based on that we have to procure ingredients ... lets leave this event ... I was totally upset on hearing this.... I said let me give a try ma.... Also It was Chithi who encouraged me & said "Hey Bharu... Let her do... I know she could do it perfectly well... & there is more than 2 hours.... If she is interested... Let her try this... She could sure win a prize... even if she couldn't... this would definitely give her a great experience... & exposure... Hey Shrima.. You can do it dear"...

Chithi immediately took care of the healthy part of it & suggested her own new recipe... HEALTH FRITTERS....

Here is the link for Health Fritters... http://www.nithubala.com/2013/05/health-fritters.html

Then we procured all the things we needed to make Health Fritters... Its almost 1 pm by this time & Chithi asked me to grate all the veggies ( Carrot, Beet), made me boil the Potato, & make paneer. She & Amma packed the Salt, Kashmiri Chilli Powder, Garam Masala, Pepper powder, Oats, Health Powder ( Saththu Maavu), Wheat Bread, & veggies in separate boxes & one bowl to mix all the ingredients.

She taught me how to make this Fritters once & asked me to do on my own. I tried my hand... It came out well. All in a jiffy.

Its 2.45 pm.... almost time to start & we started from Chithi's House & reached the trade centre on time & got our tickets & entered the venue.,..



Ha.... My first experience in a cookery competition... Excited... But Cool....

Amma was as usual a bit nervous.... looked as if she was participating in this event.... I laughed at her for getting tensed up... She wants everything to be perfect & also she took every small thing seriously & would work hard to achieve... :-p ... I used make fun of her personality.... Fun & Enjoyment is the one she really likes the most... but only after achievement.... ha... haa.... haa...

I registered my name & there they said that the preparation time is just 15 minutes... I was already prepared for that... after waiting for more than an hour & a half finally came my turn.... I went & Amma helped me arrange things in the cooking table... She kept all the ingredients & I took one by one & said what it is & what it is used for.... Also simultaneously prepared the recipe for frying...




The Judge was Mr. Ashok Kumar, NDTV Fame, Chief Executive Chef of Hotel Aloft, Sholinganallur, Chennai & the person who compered the program was ShriLekha.

Both Mr. Ashok & Shrilekha asked so many questions while I was cooking right from the start... for what you are using health powder... what for oats.... isn't Paneer full of cholesterol.... why wheat bread ... why not white bread.... why ...what... how.... ??? I answered all their questions with right answers.... Amma stood just by my side & I did all the mixing making a thick dough kind of mix.... balled it... made into slightly thick flattened one.... pour oil in the kadai (they provided induction stove... as I was used to cook in the gas stove... Amma helped me reduce the heat in induction stove...)... fried... while frying Judge asked me why don't I shallow fry it... I said as it is Gold Winner... it is of less cholesterol... it tastes really good in deep frying without cholesterol.... He smiled at me...


Shrilekha Mam asked me whether I cook independently at home... I said Yes... From 4th std onwards I used to make tea on my own & from 5th std onwards I used to cook easy items such as Dhal, Rasam, Noodles, dosas, sandwiches, rotis, etc... I also said I was inspired by my chithi, as she learnt cooking on her own when she was in 6th... My mom learnt it while she was in 8th.... My patti (Viji) is one of the best cooks I have ever known....

I arranged all the fried Health Fritters in a plate & garnished with coriander leaves & Tomato sauce. Then gave it to the Judge Mr.Ashok Kumar of Aloft Hotels & asked him to taste the fritters.




He tasted it & said Its Superb & Nice ... Ms.Shrilekha asked him how is it... He said SHRIMA IS VERY CONFIDENT.... NEVER SOUGHT ANY HELP FROM HER MOTHER.... DID ALL BY HERSELF.... ITS NICE....

He asked Amma " does she cook at home?" Amma said " Yes... at times.... when I'm a bit down... she would cook...making me sit.... Some Sundays will be hers... Try all sort of recipes worldwide... like Banana Spaghetti.... Strawberry Spaghetti.... Variety of noodles... sandwiches... Sometimes Mealmaker 65 too... " ;-) ...

He said to amma... " She is very Confident.... without any fear she answered all the tricky questions with proper answers... Superb.... She deserves.... Lets see" ....

We waited there for another one hour.... or so....  Finally it was time to announce the prizes....

I waited anxiously with butterflies in my stomach.... yeah.... there.... they announced my name for winning 2nd place.... Haaaaaaaaaa... I won..... YOUNG CHEF 2nd TITLE.... WOW.... Awesome moment.... you could see the happiness in my eyes in the photo below.... Superb Moment.....

Thank You Mr.Ashok Kumar. Your words of appreciation encourage me to explore more & more in cooking Sir... Thank you.... 



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Wonderful Experience ....  Just Loved it..... 

Thanks Every One.... 






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