Retired Indiana Teacher Wows Judges with Recession-Friendly Fish Recipe

Retired Indiana Teacher Wows Judges with Recession-Friendly Fish Recipe

Food & Water Watch Frugal Fish Contest Yields Delicious, Affordable and Sustainable Seafood Meals

 
Washington, D.C.– Food & Water Watch, a national consumer advocacy organization, today announced Gloria Piantek of West Lafayette, Indiana as the grand-prize winner of its Frugal Fish contest. An innovative recipe competition, the challenge combined creative cooking with health and sustainability components and a low budget. Piantek, a retired teacher, took the prize with her Spicy BBQ Tilapia with Herb-Roasted Potatoes and Southern Creamy Cole Slaw, which she originally put on a home-baked bun as a spin on a traditional hot dog. The entire meal for four cost just $12.32—and for her ingenuity, Piantek will take home a check for $250.

The contest, now in its second year, was designed to heighten awareness of safer and more sustainable seafood options and be a venue for imaginative cooks to share their ideas. The task for this year was to create an original meal using seafood from Food & Water Watch’s Smart Seafood Guide, which recommends fish choices based on human health, environmental, and socioeconomic criteria. This year, the contest was made even more challenging with a $25 spending limit, to show that it’s very possible – and fun – to cook and eat seafood that’s good for you and the environment on a budget.

“The healthfulness and safety of our food is an issue that affects us all,” said Food & Water Watch Fish Program Director Marianne Cufone. “Our Frugal Fish contest was designed to help increase awareness and discussion about safer, more sustainable seafood—and make it fun, too.”

The contest’s judging panel included Chef Rocky Barnette, who serves as Chef Liaison for Food & Water Watch, and who was formerly the Executive Sous-chef at The Inn at Little Washington in Washington, Virginia. Chef Rocky and the other judges were impressed with the recipe’s originality, great taste and ease of preparation. Though the panel included a chef, the judges agreed that Piantek’s recipe was simple enough for anyone to enjoy making.

Piantek, who has spent most of her life in New Jersey but relocated to West Lafayette upon retirement, loves trying out new recipes and ingredients.

“I have always had a love of life-long learning. I love to use fresh ingredients in unique and creative ways, which result in many kitchen adventures,” said Piantek. “Whether I’m preparing comforting family foods, healthy treats for community activities, or trend-setting pizza for local teens, it is a real delight to serve wholesome foods that make so many people happy.”

“All of us here at Food & Water Watch congratulate Gloria on her winning creation. Gloria has proven that you definitely can make a delicious and sustainable meal without breaking the bank. The right information and genuine creativity make it possible,” said Cufone.

Twelve other recipes were chosen as runners-up in the contest. All winning recipes will be published in an online recipe collection to be released in time for the holidays. For advance copies of any of the recipes, please contact Erica Schuetz at eschuetz@fwwatch.org or (202) 683-4903.

Food & Water Watch is a non-profit organization working with grassroots organizations around the world to create an economically and environmentally viable future. Through research, public and policymaker education, media, and lobbying, we advocate policies that guarantee safe, wholesome food produced in a humane and sustainable manner and public, rather than private, control of water resources including oceans, rivers, and groundwater. The Food & Water Watch Fish Program promotes safer and more sustainable seafood for consumers, while helping to protect the environment and support the long term well being of coastal and fishing communities.  For more information, visit www.foodandwaterwatch.org.