Google’s executive chef, Charlie Ayers (pictured, below), was responsible for feeding brilliant minds during his tenure; now, he’s teaming with the California Walnut Marketing Board to find the next fresh idea: the “Smartest’ Salad recipes in the United States.
The Smart Salads Recipe Contest is a national search for salad recipes incorporating walnuts. Four winners will be chosen by a panel of judges, including Chef Charlie, and will receive one-of-a-kind handmade California Walnut wood salad serving bowls. Twelve other randomly selected winners will receive prizes as well.
The California Walnut Marketing Board suggests these key things for home chefs to consider when creating a Smart Salad:
- That the portion size be within the USDA’s recommended dietary allowances,
- And, when choosing foods with fats, select wisely, keeping saturated fats to a minimum.
Salads entered in the content can include ingredients from all food groups including fruits & vegetables, nuts (especially Walnuts) & grains, and meat & dairy.
Chef Charlie Ayers provides tips and recommendations for improving the nutrition of salad recipes on the “Smart Salads’ contest website. He and the Walnut Board are promoting the use of walnuts to add flavor, texture and provide important alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), plant-based omega-3 fatty acids.
This is an online entry-only contest that ends on June 30, 2008. Four Grand Prize Winners will be named on July 31, 2008. For further details and to enter, please visit http://www.walnuts.org.
