Foodnetwork.co.uk is highlighting Mum’s influence on the country’s
cooking habits by hosting a competition to collect recipes handed down from mums
nationwide.
“37.2 million of the nation’s adults (77%)* spent more than
one working day watching food and cooking programmes last month, yet most of us
freely admit that Mum remains our biggest inspiration when it comes to food and
cooking,” says Food Network UK’s spokeswoman Annabel McQueen.
“We want to
see where Mum’s kitchen reign is strongest – baking, comfort food, salads or
festive meals.” Food Network UK is urging people to share their favourite
recipes from Mum and is offering one lucky mother and friend the chance to win a
day in a luxury spa and cookery school.
One of Food Network UK’s newest
chefs, Andy Bates of Eat My Pie, says his Mum nurtured his passion for food by
encouraging him to experiment with new foods and flavours. “My folks would
always get us to try local dishes on holiday - I guess there are only so many
burgers and cheese toasties you can watch your kids eat!”
“Mum taught me
how to bake. I’d hang around for the bowl scrapings and my baking skills evolved
from there. Not enough baking is done at home now.” Andy has passed on the
recipe for his Mum’s Bakewell Tart to Foodnetwork.co.uk.
“Talk to any
chef, they’ll refer to their mother or grandmother as a positive culinary
influence whether it is about their choice of ingredients, style of cooking or
the way they interpret and evolve recipes,” Andy says.
( www.foodnetwork.co.uk March 5th 2010)