Culinary Challenge Winners Announced

DES MOINES, IowaPioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business, announced the winners of the Culinary Challenge held during the Iowa Section of the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Suppliers Night on Thursday, April 19. Competing teamseach including three students, a faculty advisor and an industry membercreated appetizers fried in Plenish high oleic soybean oil from Pioneer Hi-Bred. Team members had one afternoon to perfect their entries before serving them to Suppliers Night attendees.

First place winners were Hannah Fuller, Allison Berquist, Krista McCarty and Linda Svendsen of Iowa State University, supervised by Dawn Canon of Burke Corporation, who prepared SMore Sweet Potato bites. The team received a $300 prize. The winning appetizer included sweet potato flakes, bacon chips and mini marshmallows, combined in bite size form and fried in Plenish high oleic soybean oil.

Second place honors and $200 went to Lauren Ingebrand, Robert Lysne, Linda Berlakovich and Erica Beirman of Iowa State University and supervisor Kelly Belknap of Grain Processing Corporation, who prepared Santa Fe Dippers. The dippers were made of hash browns, peppers, bacon and oat fiber and included a fried wonton for holding the dipping sauce.

The third place award of $150 went to Josh Leutscher, Anna McKinney, Justine Mattiussi and Erica Beirman of Iowa State University and supervisor Krisha Ekenstedt of Michael Foods for their Cy Bites, fried wontons filled with tomato basil sausage.

Plenish can be used for frying, baking, sautéing, dressings and marinades in foodservice applications, as well as an ingredient in packaged foods. It offers improved oil stability with an oleic content of more than 75 percent and consumer nutrition benefits with zero grams trans fat and less saturated fat.

Plenish is a great fit for food companies looking to meet consumer demand for 0g trans fat and less saturated fat with a functionally superior oil that offers high stability and longer product shelf life," said Russ Sanders, director of enhanced oils at Pioneer.