The inaugural Maussies Cook Off, Tan-Nanna Ħelu Manna, held yesterday at the William Angliss Institute in Melbourne, was a great success. Ten teams made up of three generations of Maltese Australians, cooked Maltese traditional food for over 200 people, who then participated in selecting the winning team.
The winning menu combination consisted of Barbuljata (Scrambled Eggs with tomatoes), Ġuża’s Ravioli and Imqaret (Date Slice) produced by Ġuża’s Table, a team made up of husband and wife, Emmanuel and Maria Cilia and their son Dion.
The Cook Off was judged by Mr Charles Mifsud, Consul General for Malta in Victoria; Mr Dean Delia, Maha Bar & Grill host and co-author of Maha book; Maltese Chef Mr Anton Camilleri; and Ms Nanette Johnson, Ms Gourmet Worrier food blogger.
The Caruana Experience Band made up of Nicky, Michael and Nicol Caruana rocked the house and kept everyone entertained. The Maussies Cook Off was also a fundraiser for Intercept Poverty, in aid of Maltese run orphanages in Ethiopia and raised a total of $425.
The event was filmed and will feature in the popular Maltese TV program, Xarabank. It will also feature in a 10-page spread in SBS Feast Magazine in the coming months.
The Winners
The winning teams were:
- Best Entrée – Maltese Bread by Team 3 – Ejja ‘l hawn sabiħa
- Best Main – Ġuża’s Ravioli by Team 4 – Ġuża’s Table
- Best Dessert – Imqaret by Team 4 – Ġuża’s Table
- Malteseness – Team 2 – Iris Ħanini
- Cheekiest Team – Team 10 – The 3rd Gen
- Loudest Team – Team 3 – Ejja ‘l hawn sabiħa
- People’s Choice Award – Team 4 – Ġuża’s Table
- Best Overall Team – Team 4 – Ġuża’s Table
{vsig}cook-off{/vsig}
{vsig_c}0|1-mco-winners.jpg| Maria Cilia on behalf of the Ġuża’s Table team holds the Maussies Cook Off trophy aloft. |{/vsig_c}
{vsig_c}0|2-mco.jpg| The participating teams at the Maussies Cook Off. |{/vsig_c}
{vsig_c}0|3-mco-winning-team.jpg| From left: Dion Cilia, Emmanuel Cilia and Maria Cilia |{/vsig_c}
{vsig_c}0|4-mco-winning-team.jpg| Maria Cilia checks the cooking while husband Emmanuel and son Dion supervise. |{/vsig_c}
{vsig_c}0|5-mco.jpg| Entertainment in the kitchen. |{/vsig_c}
{vsig_c}0|6-mco-judging-panel.jpg| The judging panel: (from left) Ms Nanette Johnson, Mr Dean Delia, Mr Charles Mifsud and Mr Anton Camilleri.|{/vsig_c}
