The Syracuse Community Test Kitchen (COMTEK), located at the
South Side Innovation
Center (SSIC), is celebrating its first-year anniversary by holding a cooking contest, open to
members of the public 18 years or older. Food professionals, chefs, food writers, home
economists who create recipes for pay, employees of Syracuse University and employees of
any of the contest sponsors may not participate.
COMTEK is accepting submissions for the best-tasting tomato salsa in Central New York.
Submissions must include the original recipe with a brief summary of the recipe's origin.
Recipes cannot be either previously published or publicized. The salsa must be cooked, not
fresh. COMTEK cannot accept any salsa recipes that do not include a heating step. First place recipient wins $1,000; second place wins $500; third place wins $250.
Submissions for the cooking contest will be accepted via e-mail or mail-in beginning March
2 through midnight on April 1. Recipes must be typed listing ingredients, exact
measurements or weights, equipment needed and complete preparation instructions. No
hand-written recipes will be accepted.
Finalists will prepare their recipes the week of April 27 at COMTEK. On May 7, judging will
take place and winners will be announced. The recipes will become the sole property of
COMTEK/ SU and will be made into a commercial product for sale as a promotional item
only. The proceeds from the sale will benefit COMTEK's scholarship for aspiring food
entrepreneurs who want to start businesses in Central New York.
In conjunction with the SSIC, COMTEK offers training in recipe development, business start
up and planning, sales, marketing and other related issues critical for success in the
competitive food industry. COMTEK is a joint partnership between the
Whitman School of
Management at SU and
Morrisville State College's Nelson Farms. The project is funded in
part by a grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration.
For contest rules and guidelines, visit http://www.comtek.syr.edu or call (315) 443-8600.
Media queries can be directed to Amy Mehringer, director of communications, Whitman
School of Management, at aemehrin@syr.edu or (315) 443-3834.
