Eighteen contestants who have qualified for the second run of the maiden Korea Food Contest undertook tester cooking classes in preparation for the contest finale scheduled for August 16 and 17, in Abuja.
The contestants consisting of five teams of two, and thirteen individuals were selected from the online stage of the competition based on their food presentation and introduction skills among other criteria.
The ‘second-round tester cooking class’ aims at helping the contestants adjust to the one-hour competition time, as well as maximize time and ingredients to deliver a creative presentation.
“The class is a simulation of what the offline cooking competition feels like. They will cook by themselves, read and follow the recipes on their own, and the food tasted by someone in place of a jury,” said KCCN staff and coordinator of the Hansik Cooking Classes, Sharon Habiba Yusuf.
Trending Hansik (Korea) cuisines in the contest thus far are Tteok-bokki and Japchae often highlighted in K-dramas of which a large number of the contestants are fans of. Habiba, however noted that contestants are expected to make Fusion Cuisine blending Korea and Nigeria food at the finale.
A word with the contestants confirms their awareness of the fusion aspect of the next round of the competition. And while they all have ideas of the dishes to make, some are weighing one of two options.
“I’m deliberating between three dishes. Two are more of specialties of mine because I have been making them since I started learning about Hansik cuisines – that is the ‘Gojuchang Fried Rice’ and ‘Japchae’. The third menu is the one I made today ‘Gochujang Jjigae’. I have been making them at home and getting feedback from my family members. I have to try out the fusion cuisine before choosing,” said Petroleum Engineer undergraduate and prospective Korean Culinary graduate, Halima Jibrin.
A Mother and Guidance Counsellor, Patience BerePele is sticking to the one cuisine she’d perfected at home – the ‘Gochujang Jjigae’ (Korean Stew). “When I saw the contest flier with the fusion tagline, I had a sudden inspiration of a fusion element with ‘Gojuchang Jjigae’, and that’s what I’ll make at the next round of the competition”.
Meantime, secondary school Physics teacher, Victor Mac Adonai intends to cook two varieties of ‘Japchae’ – ‘Vegan Japchae’ and ‘Non-vegan Japchae’.
Winner of the Korea Food Contest walks away with N1 million cash prize, while the second and third place winners win N700, 000 and N400, 000 cash prizes.
