ALLOTMENT COOK OFF

[ROD 'MR CHILLI' HOLMES]

This year as part of our open day, I am thinking of suggesting that we have a cook off. Has anyone else tried this? If so hints and tips would be appreciated (last year we had 200 people look over the site)
Thanks
Rod 'Mr Chilli' AKA Mr Scoville

[Gill - Guest]

Not been in this situation but if you wanted to BBQ sausages or chicken portions boil them in stock for 20 mins first I have used curry paste with the chicken then BBQ as the meat is already cooked you only need to reheat no burnt food and guaranteed no food poisining we often had large parties at our old house and my next door neighbour was the Doctor he thought this was a great idea I did not think of it myself but got it from Phil Vickery on Ready Steady Cook but it does work as you still get a smokey flavour not as good perhaps but with no danger lots of pitta bread and salads and the problems sorted good luck

[lizzie]

Why don't you do it where you give, say, 2 people meat, fish or veg and then they have to find the rest of the ingredients off the lotties. You could ask other plot holders if they would mind their plots being used for this. The contestants would then have 30 mins to cook something up with random members of the public choosing the winner.

A small prize of a crate of stella artois or something?

You could also have it where you ask people to shout out a veg that has to be collected off one of the allotments. You could make like It's a Knockout with families taking part. Adults cooking and the kids getting the produce. You could then open a book on which kid will fall over first and make a bit on the side

Just a few suggestions. Don't know if they're much help. It would help to show that allotments are for families and not just blokes of a certain age.