Coast Packing Company, a leading supplier of farm-fat-based shortenings, has announced the fifth annual #LardLovers Recipe Contest, a tribute to the staying power of comfort food. The company is calling for any unique, unpublished recipe that uses lard, in sweet or savory categories, with entries being accepted now until midnight on Sunday, November 21.
To enter, contestants can use the online form or submit through Facebook. The contest is open to those 21 and over, and no purchase is necessary to enter. This year, Coast is asking contestants to share their thoughts on what they love about cooking with lard.
All submissions will be posted on the Coast Packing website, preferably accompanied by images of the resulting dishes. For the third year, Coast’s judging panel will enlist Melissa’s/World Variety Produce, Inc. of Vernon, the largest distributor of specialty produce in the United States, to prepare and assess the top recipes in the Sweet category. Judging recipes in the Savory category will be Chef Jacob Matthew, who works at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Manhattan. Winners will be chosen based on flavor, creativity/originality and visual appeal. Judging will begin on November 22 and conclude on December 5.
Winners will be announced on December 8, National Lard Day, a celebration of the traditional, flavorful animal fat.
“Timed with National Lard Day, we at Coast are delighted to sponsor the Fifth Annual #LardLovers Contest,” says Eric R. Gustafson, Coast Packing chief executive officer. “The color, texture and flavor that lard imparts make it a vastly superior alternative to heavily processed, industrially-produced cooking oils. Lard is the once and future king of the kitchen, the one ingredient that never fails to speak ‘flavor,’ even as it brings out the best in everything it touches.”
This year’s lineup of prizes:
Sweet Category
1st Prize: KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer, 5-Qt. $430
2nd Prize: Fall Pie Baking Dream Set $110
- Stoneware Pie Dish, Set of 3 $70
- Fall Rolling Impression Pie Crust Cutter $20
- Williams Sonoma Fall Pie Punches & Impression Cookie Cutters, Set of 6 $20
Savory Category
1st Prize: Le Creuset Signature Enameled Cast Iron Oval Dutch Oven $300
2nd Prize: Ruffoni 6-Piece Olivewood Tool Set $140
“There’s a reason certain ingredients are traditional — they provide better taste than the non-traditional alternatives,” Gustafson says. “On National Lard Day, taste the difference yourself! It’s even better if you can do so from the comfort of your own kitchen, so break out that secret family recipe and join the #LardLovers Contest. To all who participate – and with a special shout-out to Melissa’s, our neighbor in Vernon — thanks for joining us in praising the lard.”
