The Institute of Tourism Studies and the Malta Dairy Products recently joined forces to host the Benna Cooking challenge, a cooking competition using Benna products. It was open to final year students at ITS who are attending the Food Preparation and Production course.

A total of 50 students took part in the competition which was split into three categories; starters, main course and dessert. To participate in any of the categories, students were asked to use any Benna product, ranging from fresh milk, ricotta, mozzarella, yoghurt to fresh cream, as a main ingredient for their entry.

The aim was to encourage Malta’s future chefs and patisseries to use genuine, fresh Maltese products in their recipes

The competition was held at the new Individual Kitchen at ITS and was judged by a team of experts composed of: ITS lecturer and event organiser Andrew Farrugia, ITS lecturer Mario Sammut, Joe Cassar from Malta Dairy Products, Jimmy Aquilina, executive pastry chef at Radisson Golden Sands and Carlos Buttigieg owner of Ħorża Restaurant.

The winners were: Daniel Vella Macintyre, best starter; David Buttigieg, best main course; Adrian Bonaci, best dessert; Melchior Camilleri, best use of a Benna product; and Andrea Amore, who won the best overall category.

Parliamentary Secretary Roderick Galdes, who attended the event together with Malta Dairy Products chairman Joseph Debrincat, said the aim of the challenge was to encourage Malta’s future chefs and patisseries to use genuine, fresh Maltese products in their recipes.

Mr Galdes said over the past few years the milk sector had seen an investment of over €40 million in farms where milk is produced and another €17 million capital investment at the Malta Dairy Products plant.