General Mills Foodservice is calling on independent family restaurants to enter its "Neighborhood to Nation" Recipe Contest for a chance to win up to $50,000 ($40,000 cash plus a $10,000 charitable donation) and the opportunity to put their local dishes in the national spotlight.
From August 1 through Sept. 30, 2014, restaurants may submit their favorite original breakfast, entrée, or dessert recipes or create a new special that uses at least one ingredient from General Mills’ list of eligible products. Three category winners will be selected: two will each be awarded a $10,000 first prize, and one will earn the Grand Prize: $40,000 cash and a $10,000 donation to a local charity.
The "Neighborhood to Nation" Recipe Contest is open to foodservice operators, chefs, and line cooks at independent family dining or neighborhood restaurants to celebrate the one-of-a-kind dishes that reflect their local flavor. The contest is also intended to inspire culinary creativity, giving operators an opportunity to experiment with high quality and consistent products from General Mills as well as exclusive access to trend information, insights, and ideas to help them differentiate their menus and delight their diners.
“We are inspired by the local flavor our customers cook up every day in neighborhoods across the country, and look forward to celebrating these one-of-a-kind dishes with the 'Neighborhood to Nation' Recipe Contest,” says Grace Gilbertson, senior marketing manager for General Mills Foodservice. “Recognizing the strong connection these neighborhood establishments have in their communities, we are particularly thrilled to award our Grand Prize winner an additional $10,000 to share with a local charity.”
Recipe submissions must include at least one ingredient from one of General Mills Foodservice’s participating brands: Pillsbury (biscuits), Gold Medal (baking mixes), and Yoplait (yogurt). Entrants can receive one $20 rebate for each recipe submission, up to a maximum of one rebate per participating brand during the entry period. The recipe contest ends Sept. 30, 2014. Official rules are available online at www.NeighborhoodtoNation.com.
Entries will be judged based on taste, appearance, creativity, and foodservice viability. The top 15 finalists and recipes will be announced in February. Three Recipe Category Winners will travel to General Mills’ headquarters in March for a day of celebration and culinary inspiration as well as the announcement of the official Grand Prize winner.
