We teamed up with Impossible Foods to give you an opportunity to be on the cutting-edge of culinary progress. 100 chefs were shipped Impossible Food’s groundbreaking plant-based meat in order to show off its limitless possibilities. We received a ton of inspiring entries, representing so many creative cuisines. You all really took the Impossible “beef” beyond the burger!
After much deliberation, here are our picks!
GRAND PRIZE WINNER – NORBERT BOMM
Impossible Asian Inspired Wellington with Hoisin Ginger Spiced Mushroom Duxelles and Spinach.
Judges Comment: We were blown away by this entry from the start of the contest. It would be a strong enough entry in a non-Impossible Foods contest, for the way it fuses Asian flavors with the traditional Wellington preparation, but the fact that it does so while making the Impossible meat look so medium-rare and juicy takes it to a whole separate level. We absolutely want to try it!
RUNNER UP – CHRIS AMICUCCI
Impossible Kefta – Middle East and Mediterranean flavors meet with spiced Impossible meat, hummus, baby greens and roasted tomato & olive tapenade.
</ center>Judges Comment: Obviously this plate as a whole looks delicious, and the photo is really high quality, but the standout feature is how front-and-center the Impossible meat is presented, and how damn delicious it looks here. It genuinely looks like an entree made with animal protein, with that juicy medium-rare center peeking out of the side. We can imagine items inspired by this entry on menus everywhere!
PEOPLE’S CHOICE WINNERS
We opened up the contest for public voting, offering prizes for the 10 entries with the most votes. Click here to view the top 10, in order, and you can also scroll through the entire gallery and gain inspiration from all of the incredible entries.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
There were so many exciting uses of the Impossible meat that judging seemed like an impossible task. We only had two judges’ prizes to award, but there were several other dishes that we thought were very deserving of recognition. We’ll also be sharing these on Instagram over the weekend. In no particular order, here are several dishes that especially impressed us.
HONORABLE MENTION – JUSTIN NEWGAARD
Impossible Korean Beef Bowl
Korean Style Bulgogi with Impossible Meat, Spicy North African Collard Greens, Pickled Shaved Carrots and Onions, Roasted Cherry Tomatoes with White Rice.
Judges Comment: Picture perfect, a very well-balanced dish!
HONORABLE MENTION – DREW STANLEY
Impossible Stuffed Naan with Minted Lebneh and A Tomato-Cucumber Salad
Middle Eastern spiced Impossible Meat Stuffed Naan Bread with a minted lebneh and tomato cucumber salad
Judges Comment: Impossible meat-stuffed Naan Hints at some truly unique possibilities for incorporating “beef” into traditional Indian cooking.
HONORABLE MENTION – JESSICA CARTER
Impossible Asian Inspired Meatballs
This dish included savory Asian inspired meatballs made with Impossible meat, fresh ginger and garlic, sesame oil, and vegetarian oyster sauce.
Judges Comment: A simple but beautifully executed vegan meal.
HONORABLE MENTION – DAVID RASHTY
The Impossible Bento Box
Impossible Tsukune (Japanese meatball), Impossible meat meatball, scallion, ginger, kobayaki sauce. Impossible Gyoza, Impossible meat, ginger, yuzu kosho, scallion, ponzu-chili sauce Impossible Cheeseburger sushi roll, Impossible meat and mozzarella cheese, and Japanese pickle in a sushi roll. Impossible Curry-Impossible meat foods Japanese curry, zucchini, carrots, onion, over white rice.
Judges Comment: What can we say that this photo doesn’t show? Chef pushed the envelope by pursuing four applications of the Impossible meat. We’re really impressed with the vision!
HONORABLE MENTION – JUSTIN FIELDS
Torched Impossible Bibimbap Oshizushi
Bibimbap Inspired Pressed Sushi : Torched Impossible Bulgogi :: Sunny Side Quail Egg :: Crispy Enoki :: “Kim Chee” Aioli
Judges Comment: Torched Impossible Bulgogi sounds amazing. Beautiful presentation chef.
HONORABLE MENTION – CHRISTOPHER NAU
Döner Kebab
Herb Oil infused Impossible Meat Döner Kebab with Tumeric Wildflower Mock* Tzatziki served on a Garlic Mint Naan Bread
Judges Comment: We love the eye-catching colors used here.
HONORABLE MENTION – BRODY OLIVE
Impossible Spicy “Larb” Salad
Spicy Thai Impossible “Larb” Salad, pickled vegetables, rice noodle, sable rice, red chili, heirloom cherry tomatoes, mint & cilantro.
Judges Comment: Shout out to our Thai chefs! This plate looks amazingly fresh and healthy, and the Impossible meat looks to make a picture-perfect larb.
HONORABLE MENTION – LISA FARR
Impossible Stroganoff with Roasted Mushrooms & Herbed Noodles
Impossible Foods meat with roasted mushrooms, cognac cream sauce, herbed noodles garnished with creme fraiche & chives.
Judges Comment: Top notch take on the dish. It looks like it could keep us warm all winter!
HONORABLE MENTION – ADRIAN CRUZ
Scottish egg and black garlic mash potatoes
Scottish eggs in a pork chicharron panko with bacon confit carrot and black garlic mash potatoes
Judges Comment: Really stunning dish here chef. The presentation is immaculate, and kudos on the creativity.
HONORABLE MENTION – RJ HARVEY
Impossible Korean Philly “Cheesesteak” with Gochujang “Cheese” Sauce, Stir-fry Sesame Choy Sum, and Spicy Cabbage Kimchi.
Smoky Impossible “Beef” with Potato “Cheese” Sauce, Stir Fried Wild Mushrooms, Cabbage Kimchi, Sesame Scented Choy Sum on a Toasted Baguette
Judges Comment: Amazing flavors on display here. We’d bite into that in a heartbeat.
