Alisia Brown (right) receiving her prize from SOL Country Manager, Deborah Benjamin. Photo:VINO

Staff of SOL BVI, judges, and participants in the SOL Gas ‘My Favourite Recipe’ promotion final. Photo:VINO

The winning entry of a carrot cake done by Alisia Browne for the final of the event. Photo: VINO

Seven contestants entered the final leg of the contest, which involved the preparation of their dishes for judging at a 'tasting event'.

Browne emerged the overall winner with her submission in the Baked Sweet category.

Each dish was judged on presentation, taste, and originality by a panel of the VI's top chefs, which included Chef Davide Pugliese (Wali Nikiti), Chef Kenneth Molyneaux (Treasure Isle), and Chef Henry Prince (HLSCC).

SOL ran an online 'Favourite Recipe' LPG promotion from July 1 to August 31, 2012 with an open invitation to all VI residents over the age of 18. Participants were asked to submit their favourite recipes for a chance to win one of five category prizes and one grand prize of a free supply of SOL LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas also known as cooking gas) for one year.

Among the winners and their submissions in the various categories were Gewan Ramphal, who won the Appetizer with his Hot Wings; Kavin Stoddard won the Entrée with his Broccoli Cheese Casserole; Angela Smith won the Dessert category with her Chocolate Ancho Crème Brulee; Alisia Browne was victorious in the Baked Sweet category with her Carrot Cake and Keisha Donovan won the Baked Savory with her submission of a Johnny Cake.

Commenting on her win, Browne said, “it was a good experience, [it was] my first time competing.” She expressed that even though she was confident of her chances, she was a little nervous coming before the judges but was immediately reassured once they complimented her recipe.

Browne also hinted that the spices in her recipe were probably the secret to her victory.

Victory seemed so sweet to taste that the elated Browne just couldn’t seem to stop smiling after her victory. She added that she entered the competition for fun but was surprised and happy that she won adding that everyone always thought that her carrot cake was excellent. “I’m happy that they picked my carrot cake over the other desserts,” she said.

Country Manager of SOL BVI, Ms Deborah Benjamin said SOL prides itself in coming up with very unique ideas and wanted to do something very special to promote its cooking gas.

She noted that SOL felt it would be quite intriguing to hold a culinary type of event so they decided to proceed with the contest and got a culinary team of judges together to assess recipes submitted from members of the public.

Ms Benjamin said it was hoped that the event would become an annual one especially considering the tremendous number of responses received.

There were 8 finalists listed (7 appeared) with two persons for each category and she expressed that it was very pleasing to see the interaction between the judges and participants, wherein they were given tips on improving their recipes and questioned on their personal input into their submissions. The professional experience of the judges, she noted, counted for a lot and it appeared that everyone who participated had fun at the event.

The online contest was promoted on three news sites, the Sol newsletter and Facebook pages, ads on the internet, and via radio ads.