Knorr Taste Quest Episode 8: Spaghetti and agbalumo!

The battle for the title of Nigerian’s culinary best continues with the Knorr Taste Quest, Season 2. The theme for last week’s challenge was tagged ‘Cooking For a Loved One from the Heart’, and the contestants were given 90 minutes and a host of interesting ingredients to make a 3 course meal.

For the starter, the ingredients used were; pineapple, brown rice, butter lettuce, puff pastry, bran flakes, gizzard and Knorr original. For the main dish, the ingredients used were spaghetti, coconut, apples, cucumber, carrots, pork chops and Knorr chicken, while the desert ingredients were milk, agbalumo, bacon, flacked almonds and Knorr original. The trick however is that each course must have at least two ingredients from the ingredients provided for it.

Speaking on the choice of ingredients, the judges discussed on the nutritional values of each ingredient provided.  One to note is the butter lettuce which is not so popular, but a sweeter version of the regular lettuce.

After 90 minutes, Wando was first to present her dish. She made pasta in coconut milk as her main dish which Chef Fregz described as delicious; however her total presentation was ‘not pretty’.

Doom’s performance wasn’t too impressive, and her dish was referred to as a ‘hot mess’. Chef Renee complained about Moses’ gizzard being too tough, but Dr Roberts believed his overall performance was ‘OK’. The judges complemented Ojo on his performance, and liked almost all the dishes presented, while Olabode’s dish had few hitches. Dixon, Bassey, Chinelo and Popoola all had mixed reviews and didn’t necessarily ‘wow’ the judges.

Ojo unanimously emerged task winner for the day and was rewarded with N20, 000 by the Knorr brand. On probation was Doom and Charles as their performances were far below expectations.

The ingredients are getting tougher and tougher with each week, and they are sure to weed out the ‘cold’ contestants. Prizes up for grabs this season are; N2 million cash prize, a Ford Eco Sport SUV, courtesy of Coscharis Motors, and Kenwood kitchen equipment for the first prize, N1 million cash prize and Kenwood kitchen equipment for the second place and N500,000 cash prize and Kenwood kitchen equipment for the third place winner.

What special dish would you make for a loved one? Join the Knorr community on www.facebook.com/KnorrNigeria and tell us.