Barbara Ellington, Lifestyle Editor
Councillor Don Creary serves up a generous helping of his Indian chicken dish to a patron during Men Who Cook at Alpart, Manchester. - CONTRIBUTED
THE LIONS Club of Mandeville did it again. Sunday, March 26 saw another successful staging of the club's annual Men Who Cook fund-raising showcase at the Alpart Sports Club in Manchester.
It has become a day filled with fun for the entire family and this year saw some new activities like a vintage car display and a bingo game, a best booth competition, as well as a guest appearance by 'Rising Stars' runner-up Noddy Virtue.
The grounds were littered with sponsors' booth displays and product information. The Soft Sheen Carson team worked their magic on willing volunteers tresses. Financial/insurance houses like Jamaica National Building Society, FX Traders, First Global and Pan Caribbean served up their menu of product offerings and gave away some goodies in the process.
Lions Club members were all over the grounds helping the 'chefs' by collecting ticket stubs and making sure things went well.
VEGETARIANS HAPPY
This year, with at least three entertaining alternatives in the capital city, many regulars did not show, but those present enjoyed favourites: John Bascoe's Roast Suckling Pig prepared by Newton Coote; Maxi Bell's famous Curry Goat; Dwight Moore's Veggie Balls in Sweet and Sour Sauce and Red Peas Rolls; Don Creary's Chicken Mughlai; Grace Kitchen's succulent Country Pride Ham with Mango Glaze and John Minott's Shrimp with Dips made from Baronhall sauces.
Many health-conscious as well as the growing number of vegetarians were very happy with the vegetarian dishes and showed their appreciation by returning for seconds, thirds and fourths.
Hard to believe each of the men who cooked had come with enough to feed 200 persons; the food just disappeared. But they did, in agreement with the request of the Lions Club.
The invited celebrity men had to prepare the meat or other dishes at their or a sponsor's expense, don an apron and cap and be prepared to share their recipes with patrons.
A new feature, the best booth contest, saw Maggi's colourful display of products set against a backdrop of bandanna, emerge ahead of the pack. Grace Kitchens was second. Judges were this reporter assisted by Alister Gordon.
