Connect's Food Waste Week Campaign
Connect, a Sustainable Caterer
Our Mission at Connect is to minimise our impact on the environment and we are committed to reducing waste, pollution, and energy. We are passionate about our fresh food, quality seasonal ingredients and promote responsible practices throughout the company.
Connect launched a ‘Food Waste Week’ campaign across all sites, including a competition, open to all Connect employees. The entry criteria was simple, submit a recipe that included imaginative ways to use up food, which would otherwise be thrown away.
Did you know that on average, 18% of food purchased
by the UK Hospitality and Food Service sector is thrown away!
And 75% of the food that ends up in the
bin could have been eaten!
We were completely blown away by the response, creativity and the innovation of all the recipes received! Our Operations Team were challenged with shortlisting just twelve recipes. The finalists had to prepare their dishes and get them delivered to Head Office for the judging stage. They were marked on taste, appearance and how closely they stuck to the brief.
The verdict was tough, as all dishes created were well presented and incredibly tasty. But, the final decision was unanimous, as the winning dish was made, almost entirely, with food which would have gone to waste!
Who knew food that would have gone to waste could taste so good - see the recipe below to try for yourself!
Crunchy Curried Vegetable & Potato Cake
Created by Mark, Relief Chef Manager | serves 4
Ingredients
250g carrot peel
250g parsnip peel
250g broccoli stalks
250g leftover vegetables
500g leftover jacket or mashed potatoes
1 egg
2 tsp curry paste or powder
1 tsp cumin
1 garlic clove
1 small onion
To Serve
Rocket
Parmesan shavings
Method
Wash the vegetables thoroughly before peeling.
Pan fry the peelings, broccoli stalks, garlic and onion with 1 teaspoon of curry paste/powder and cumin.
Chop any leftover vegetables from yesterday’s service
(I used carrots and courgettes) and add the potato.
Combine all the ingredients with 1 egg, 1 teaspoon of curry paste/powder and season accordingly.
Shape into 4 equal sized patties.
Pan fry to colour and seal.
Finish cooking in the oven at 140°C for about 10-15 minutes.
Serve with rocket and Parmesan shavings.
Enjoy!
