Making memories with your family can bring a sense of balance, joy and long-term bonding to your life. And because I’m always on the lookout for fun ways to enjoy family time together, I’m really excited to tell you about this spring event happening in the Vancouver area.
BC’s Hands-On Cook-Off Contest
This year, BC’s popular, multigenerational cooking contest, The Hands-on Cook-off contest is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Presented by Better Together BC, contestants are challenged to get together with friends and/or family to create a video depicting them preparing, describing and cooking a recipe together. The contest is open for submissions from April 15th to May 15th, 2019 and is a wonderful way to engage in some lighthearted competition while enjoying the benefits of cooking together with someone you love.
Research and experience tell us that eating meals together as a family is an important way to build trust, bond and stay tuned into each other’s lives and day-to-day activities. It’s also an important way to promote healthy lifelong eating habits that encourage meaningful interactions and important nutritional education.
The BC Hands-on Cook-off contest is designed for all ages and is a playful way to spend time with your loved ones while getting creative with food. The youngest contestant was just 18 months old, so everyone is invited to participate in this enjoyable culinary cook-off! Celebrating its tenth year, the contest has had:
- Over 335 video entries submitted since 2010
- Over $35,000 in cash and in-kind prizes awarded since 2010
- Over 45 towns throughout BC represented in the contest, including entries from Vancouver and Victoria, to Enderby and Castlegar!
The theme this year is making memories in the kitchen, and throughout the month-long contest, you’ll be invited to watch highlights of memorable past entries and milestones from over the past ten years. Popular recipe entries from previous contests include cakes, pancakes and pasta, but use your imagination! Anything goes.
The guidelines are simple:
- Shoot and submit a video showing how to prepare a recipe of your choice
- Any BC resident of any age is eligible to enter between April 15th and May 15th, 2019
- Enter in one of two categories
- Multi-generational category – At least two generations must be involved in the recipe preparation
- Youth category – At least two youth aged 18 years or younger must be involved in the recipe preparation
- Your video submission must be no longer than three minutes once uploaded online. Visit bettertogetherbc.ca/contest for tips and in-depth submission guidelines as well as the submission portal
- Vote! Take part in the contest by voting for your favourite video in each category
- Winners in the multi-generational category win $300 cash for their team and the People’s Choice award for the category
- Winners in the youth category win $150 cash for their team and $150 for their school or youth program as well as the People’s Choice award for the category
A panel of 7 judges will determine the grand prize winners as well as the runners up. In addition, all contestants that submit a video and picture will be entered into a random prize draw for the chance to win $500 cash. The judges love to see contestants enjoying themselves and having fun while they cook, so get those positive vibes flowing and let your enthusiasm shine through.
To learn more about how to make your video in more detail and to view past entries, visit bettertogetherbc.ca/contest.
Judges this year include:
- Ned Bell, Ocean Wise Executive Chef and Culinary Director of the Vancouver Club
- David Hawksworth, Chef/Owner of Hawksworth Restaurant Group
- Claire Newell, travel expert and media personality
- Susie Wall, style and entertainment expert
- Samantha Gutmanis, food editor and blogger
- Honourable Lana Popham, C.’s Minister of Agriculture
- Anna Brisco, chef, registered dietitian and nutrition educator
Participation for the contest is free, so now’s the time to enjoy some time together in the kitchen. When I include my own daughters in a family cooking experience, I find they are more engaged with the food we are eating and more willing to try new things. They become open to new flavours, new food preparations and the overall pleasure that comes with an immersive food experience. It’s a time of learning for all of us, and something I wouldn’t trade for the world.
So, start bonding, cooking and enjoying some extra time together while you participate in the Hands-on Cook-off contest. Free, fun and loaded with new memories. Get ready, get set, get cooking!
Tagged under: Vancouver
Category: events
