Header image: Plantain Nigiri by Chef Davin Waite (in collab w/ Chefs Roll) with Big Banana® Ripe Plantain Slices
Get ready to play up your plantains!
US-Based chefs, we’ve once again teamed up with MIC Food® to host the Big Banana® Plantain Month Recipe Contest. Apply below for a chance to receive complimentary plantain samples that you can use to create and enter an original recipe. Some truly choice prizes are up for grabs. Keep reading to learn more!
November is National Plantain Month! It’s coming soon, and it’s going to be the perfect opportunity to use the beloved tropical ingredient in some out-of-the-box, creative and daring culinary innovations.
What do we mean by “Play up your plantains”?
Plantains have long been used as a staple side dish in many countries, but we want you to take it a step further and make the plantain the star of the dish.
Plantains are sweet by nature, and versatile enough to be used in both sweet and savory recipe applications. Let your imagination run wild!
So play up your plate with plantains as your main ingredient. Show us your style, go bold with Big Banana® Sweet Plantains.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
- Register below by October 27th to be one of 75 chefs selected to receive a complimentary sample of Big Banana® Plantains from MIC Food®.*
- If chosen, develop and execute on an original recipe – showing off plantain as a featured ingredient.
- Upload the most enticing photo of your creation to your public Instagram account by November 22nd. Just tag @micfood and use #BigBananaPlantainMonth2021.
3 winners will be announced on November 30th, and will take home some excellent prizes, including cash, a custom knife, and more. (Prize info below!)
*Selection preference will be given to chefs with the ability to make or influence decisions within foodservice operations.
INSPIRATION
Looking for some inspiration? Watch Chef Mikel Anthony throw together some plantain deliciousness in the Test Kitchen:
REGISTRATION – Now Closed
PRIZES
- Grand Prize:
- $500 cash
- Custom Blade from Meglio Knives
- 17-pocket Knife Bag from Boldric
- Chef’s Roll Apparel Chef Tools Kit
- Runners Up prize (2x will win):
- 17-pocket Knife Bag from Boldric
- Chef’s Roll Apparel Chef Tools Kit
WHY BIG BANANA® FOR FOODSERVICE?
Big Banana® is partnered with national and international food distributors, retailers, restaurant chains, schools, brokers, and food manufacturers to deliver a consistent supply of ready-to-eat, frozen ripe and green plantain products.
Big Banana® frozen value-added products come prepared ready-to-heat and serve:
- Saving chefs time & costs on preparation of product (products come pre-cooked and formed in a variety of different cuts perfect for your use (bias cut slices, rounds, mashes for sauces, whole baked for ripe products).
- Cost of Waste product: 100% Yield
- Long shelf life: Use what you need only
- 100% Natural: No preservatives, additives or artificial ingredient
- Gluten Free
- Kosher
- Available through most national foodservice distributors. To find one in your neighborhood, please contact: ask@micfood.com
FROZEN VS. FRESH
Big Banana® wants people to know there’s a common misconception that fresh produce is better than frozen produce. They maintain that their frozen fruits and vegetables are packed with nutritional value, sometimes greater than that of fresh produce. Fresh fruits and vegetables in the grocery store are often picked before they’ve peaked in ripeness, and their taste and nutritional content can plummet significantly within days.
With Big Banana® frozen produce, however, fruits and vegetables are picked at their peak, then immediately frozen to preserve an incredibly delicious, nutrient-rich state. Frozen produce like plantains can be kept and used over a long period of time with very little decrease in nutritional value, quality, or taste.
Frozen fruits and vegetables are also more practical and convenient. When purchased frozen, MIC Food® has already done the work of washing, peeling, cutting and if necessary, removing pits and seeds. What you buy is typically 100% usable produce, saving you time and money, plus there are no surprises with spoiled or damaged product under the skin.
The assertion that frozen produce is often better than the items that grocery stores promote as “fresh” is not an overstatement. To learn more about frozen food facts, visit the Frozen Food Foundation.
Images courtesy Chef’s Roll and MIC Food®
