Japanese Rice Cooking Competition

(I just get these in my e-mail and pass them on...)

WELCOME TO “GOHAN IN NEW YORK 2005”

NEW SUBMISSION DEADLINE: AUGUST 15, 2005

Berko Productions is pleased to announce the third annual Japanese rice cooking contest “Gohan in New York”! The Grand Prize winner will make a guest appearance on a famous cooking show in Japan and visit many points of culinary splendor from the Tsukiji fish market to the Tokyo Rice Museum, in an all-expense paid trip to Japan for two.

Info about "Gohan in New York 2005":
http://www.berkoproductions.com/cooking

SUBMIT YOUR ORIGINAL RECIPE USING JAPANESE RICE:
Use your imagination— the key is to be as creative as you can! Complete the application form and submit your original recipe using Japanese rice (sticky and creamy rice, also called “gourmet sushi rice”, originally imported from Japan). “Gohan”, a Japanese word for “rice”, also means “cuisine” or “meal”. From this exciting culinary event, we hope that you will explore the ultimate potential of rice and enhance your passion for food. Applicants are required to submit ONE recipe (for 4 servings) from their choice of two categories: HOT or SUSHI. This contest is sponsored by JA-ZENCHU (The Japanese Central Union of Agricultural Co-Operatives) and will be aired on television by NHK Japan Broadcasting Corporation in mid-December 2005.

NEW SUBMISSION DEADLINE: AUGUST 15, 2005

Printable Procedure for "Gohan in New York 2005":
http://berkoproductions.com/CookingPrint.htm

CONTEST PROCEDURE 1: PAPER SELECTION
A celebrity chef will select thirty of the most promising applicants from the recipes submitted. These quarterfinalists will then be given ten days to submit one more recipe to complete the two categories. In other words, applicants who initially submitted a recipe for the SUSHI category will then turn in a recipe for the HOT category, and vice versa.

CONTEST PROCEDURE 2: REGIONAL CONTEST
Based on the quality of their two submitted recipes (HOT and SUSHI), a total of nine contestants will be chosen to represent three regions of the United States (East Coast, West Coast, and Midwest) and compete in the regional contests. (3 contestants per region) At the Regionals, these nine semifinalists will compete with both their SUSHI and HOT recipes in a supervised environment.

All nine contestants will be provided with “Koshihikari” rice, the premium brand of Japanese rice by Kumai Harvest, (exclusively available at William Sonoma) so that they can practice their recipes for the contest. (Please visit http://www.kumaiharvest.com/recipes/go-han-nyc.htm for recipe ideas.) Travel expenses including airfare, hotels and all incidental costs will also be provided to the selected contestants.

CONTEST PROCEDURE 3: FINAL CONTEST
One finalist from each region— three in total— will proceed to the Final Competition. This contest will be filmed before a studio audience in New York City in November 2005. Prior to the final contest, the three finalists will be asked to create an additional recipe for the DESSERT category. The contestants will compete with all three of their recipes (HOT, SUSHI, and DESSERT) live in the studio.

CONTEST RULE:
You must use easily accessible ingredients and easily accessible cooking equipment in your recipes. If you are unsure if an ingredient or tool falls within these guidelines, please confirm by asking cooking@berkoproductions.com.

Download application form for "Gohan in New York 2005":
http://berkoproductions.com/contest.pdf

Info about "Gohan in New York 2004":
http://www.kumaiharvest.com/recipes/go-han-nyc.htm

For all inquires, please contact us by e-mail:
cooking@berkoproductions.com


Yasuaki Nakajima
Berko Productions
424 W. 33rd St.Suite 220
NY, NY 10001, USA
(212) 414-4730 ext-207(phone)
(212) 414-4731(fax)
www.berkoproductions.com
ynakajima@berkoproductions.com