Fordham Asks: ‘So You Think You Can Cook?’

Do you think your favorite original recipe is creative and delectable enough to win over the taste buds of the Fordham community?

Fordham’s Hospitality Services invites you to prove it by entering its culinary competition this fall.

Open to students, parents, alumni, faculty and staff, the competition continues a tradition begun last year with the search for Fordham’s signature dessert.

This year, the search is on for the best non-dessert recipe, which opens the field to entrees, salads, sandwiches—anything that falls under the category of “family traditional food,” said Brian Poteat, general manager of Food Services.

Similar to last year, six finalists with the best recipes will be selected to work with the Fordham team of culinary experts to prepare 200 tasting portions on Nov. 6 in The Marketplace, when final judging will take place.

As part of Family Weekend, the tasting event will bring together parents and other family members with students, staff, faculty and alumni to sample each dish and choose the winner.

While participants will be asked to provide detailed step-by-step instructions for their recipes, the culinary team also wants to learn the history of the dish and why it’s a special recipe.

The winner of “So You Think You Can Cook?” will receive an assortment of Fordham merchandise. He or she also will be featured in Fordham online and print media, and will be photographed with Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of Fordham, and Michael DeMartino, executive chef.

The winning recipe may even be added to the Food Services menu cycle and become part of Fordham’s culinary history, Poteat said.

All recipes (one per person) must be submitted online by Oct. 1, 2009. For more information or to submit an entry, go to Hospitality Service’s website: www.fordham.edu/campus_resources/campus_facilities/hospitality_services/.
- Nina Romeo