Syracuse Community Test Kitchen offers cash prizes for salsa cooking contest

Friday, February 20, 2009, By News Staff

Syracuse Community Test Kitchen offers cash prizes for salsa cooking contestFebruary 20, 2009Amy Schmitzaemehrin@syr.edu

The Syracuse Community Test Kitchen (COMTEK), located at the South Side Innovation Center (SSIC), is celebrating its first-year anniversary by holding a cooking contest, open to members of the public 18 years or older. Food professionals, chefs, food writers, home economists who create recipes for pay, employees of Syracuse University and employees of any of the contest sponsors may not participate.

COMTEK is accepting submissions for the best-tasting tomato salsa in Central New York. Submissions must include the original recipe with a brief summary of the recipe’s origin. Recipes cannot be either previously published or publicized. The salsa must be cooked, not fresh. COMTEK cannot accept any salsa recipes that do not include a heating step. First place recipient wins $1,000; second place wins $500; third place wins $250.

Submissions for the cooking contest will be accepted via e-mail or mail-in beginning March 2 through midnight on April 1. Recipes must be typed listing ingredients, exact measurements or weights, equipment needed and complete preparation instructions. No hand-written recipes will be accepted.

Finalists will prepare their recipes the week of April 27 at COMTEK. On May 7, judging will take place and winners will be announced. The recipes will become the sole property of COMTEK/ SU and will be made into a commercial product for sale as a promotional item only. The proceeds from the sale will benefit COMTEK’s scholarship for aspiring food entrepreneurs who want to start businesses in Central New York.

In conjunction with the SSIC, COMTEK offers training in recipe development, business start up and planning, sales, marketing and other related issues critical for success in the competitive food industry. COMTEK is a joint partnership between the Whitman School of Management at SU and Morrisville State College’s Nelson Farms. The project is funded in part by a grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration. For contest rules and guidelines, visit http://www.comtek.syr.edu or call (315) 443-8600.

Media queries can be directed to Amy Mehringer, director of communications, Whitman School of Management, at aemehrin@syr.edu or (315) 443-3834.