The Marketing & Communications team in Corporate Services have recently set up their very own Masterchef!
It's actually their second 'season' of Marketing Masterchef. They originally ran the first one back in 2021 as a way to connect more throughout lockdown, and it continued for around 11 episodes over the course of the year. It was popular enough for a reboot and recommission for this year!
How it works
Anyone in the team can submit a picture (anonymously or with their name attached), of food they'd made, ordered, or even found. Joshua Hilton, Marketing Executive - Employ GM, alongside two celebrity guests from the team then judge the food, write comments, and score it out of ten – and finally, they share back the results with everyone in the team.
The team told us that it was a fun activity, and a great way to engage the team virtually.
They held their first 'episode' last month, and below are the mouth-watering results....
Joshua told gave us a behind the scenes lowdown:
"I originally decided to run GC Marketing Masterchef to help everyone in the team communicate more and engage virtually as we worked flexibly - and letting us bond over something we all love and have MANY opinions of - food! I also love to make sure that our 'celebrity guest judges' (members of the team, changing each episode) are occasionally newer or quieter members of the team, to give them the spotlight they deserve. I also hasten to add that I do not judge the dishes myself (all are valid in my eyes, we've had a "McDonalds Tapas Tower" which was simply genius)- I am merely a very glamorous hostess."
EPISODE ONE
5 dishes were submitted by colleagues.
Judging the team's first culinary efforts were Lydia Ahmed, Graphic Designer, and Georgia Carly, Marketing Manager for GEC (The 'Good Employment Charter', which for one week stands for 'Good Eating Commentary'!)
Check out some of the judge's comments below...
Dish 1: Joe Grindrod's Curried Chicken with Sticky Rice and Broccoli
"This looks aaaaaabsolutely stunning, what a vibe. The rice looks perfectly sticky (almost borderline pudding rice which is my personal fave)."
Total Score - 14.5
Dish Two: Gaile Yeung's Gorgeous Dinner
"Firstly, love the alliteration of 'Gaile's Gorgeous Dinner' - could be a cookbook tbh! Also, loving the inclusion of MULTIPLE dishes - the fried chicken wings are calling my name (as well as the drink top left ). However, I sadly must admit the tripe is throwing me off, trigger warning for those with trypophobia, but I have never admittedly tried tripe - first time for everything right?! 7/10
Total Score - 14.5
Dish Three: Alex Chan's Hong Kong Style Char Siu fried rice, with egg and green onions
"I just know this tastes amazing - but it’s a bit of a hard dish to present in a pretty way. It does look homemade so extra kudos for that, was the char siu done yourself too? That kind of effort would be eligible for extra points to whatever I give you below! Whilst this isn't the most pretty and exciting, it absolutely does look very tasty (and isn't that what we're here for at the end of the day?) so I’m going to go with 7/10."
Total Score- 15!
Dish Four: Sarah Wilkinsons' Hospital Hotpot (sent from Sarah's hospital bed)
"Okkkkkkkkkkkk, no offence Sarah, I feel for you with this one. I appreciate that they didn't scrimp on the greens however, those potatoes are looking pretty sad and soggy. This gal likes a crispy potato, so sadly it's a no from me. 4/10 for effort. Big up the NHS."
Total Score - 8.5
Dish Five: Suraj Shrestha's Momos - The national party food of Nepal. Mince lamb steamed dumplings in a tomato-based spicy sauce.
"Um, first we have to address that these dumplings are called momos!!!!!! Cutest name in the world. This dish has all the right components for me. Weird take, but I loooove mince lol! and a tomato-based spicy sauceeee?!?!?!?! You've got me - hit the nail on the head. These would be inhaled - 10/10"
Total Score -18.5/19! (THE WINNER)
