November 2021 saw the climax of an exciting cooking competition – Golden Tomato Cook – which we developed for our client Mutti, the Italian’s favourite tomato brand*. Inspired by Mutti’s Pomodorino d’oro award which is presented to the famer who supplies the best quality produce each year, this new consumer culinary competition recognises and rewards the UK’s best tomato cook. Menus were judged on making the tomato the hero of the dish, originality, presentation, menu appeal and taste. Mutti’s mission is to raise the tomato to its highest expression and this contest challenged consumers across the UK to do exactly that by creating a three-course tomato-based menu using the Mutti Essentials range.

Hannah Such from Kilburn, London was proudly announced, as the winner of this exciting nationwide cooking competition.  She wowed the esteemed panel of chef judges, including Ben Tish, Paul Foster, Gabriella Margiotta and Head Chef at Mutti, Italy, Carlo Casoni, with her tomato-based three-course menu at the live “MasterChef” style final which took place at Sauce, by The Langham, London on 8th November 2021. Hannah not only picked up the coveted title of Golden Tomato Cook, but she’s also won the incredible star prize of a trip to the food valley in Parma, Italy**, the home of Mutti.

Hannah’s winning three-course tomato-based menu included:

  • Starter: Aubergine Parmigiana Rolls with Basil Oil – with Mutti Polpa
  • Main: ‘Nduja and Marscapone Spaghetti – with Mutti Passata
  • Dessert: Fig, Pistachio and Tomato Tartlets – with Mutti Double Concentrated Puree

Mutti believes that every great recipe deserves a great tomato, and that there’s a perfect fit of tomato for every dish. Through this competition Mutti invited cooks in homes across the nation to get creative with its Essentials range – Polpa Finely Chopped Tomatoes, Peeled Tomatoes, Passata and Double Concentrated Tomato Puree and discover the wide variety of dishes that it’s possible to make with them.

Scores of cooks across the UK created and submitted a delicious three-course tomato-based menu (starter, main and dessert) with each dish using a different and perfectly matched product from the Mutti Essentials range. Five shortlisted menus were put to the public vote before the three selected finalists were invited to cook in front of the chef judges during the live final.

Head Chef at Mutti, Italy, Carlo Casoni said: “As we expected the standard in the final was extremely high. Each of our contestants should be extremely proud with how they performed throughout the day, they really did put their heart and soul into it. All the dishes were very accomplished and delivered high quality and great taste. But there can only be one winner and we unanimously agreed that Hannah’s menu was the standout success. She achieved consistently high marks across each of the judging criteria and she really showcased how the Mutti tomatoes fitted perfectly in every dish. She richly deserves being crowned our champion 2021. Congratulations!”

Hannah Such, Mutti Golden Tomato Cook 2021, speaking about how delighted she is to win the competition said “I’m incredibly proud to win. It’s a big confidence boost, proving to myself that I am a good cook. I believe the quality of the ingredients is what makes the best dishes, hence why I use Mutti. I am so excited about the trip to the food valley in Parma. I can’t wait to explore the home of Mutti and spend time with Mutti head chef Carlo – it’s going to be an incredible experience.”

Second place went to Joyce Lee, from Camberley, Surrey, who created a starter of Tomato Sashimi using Mutti Peeled tomatoes, followed by a main course of Crispy Nori Tofu in a Spicy Tomato Sauce using Mutti Polpa and a Muttilicious Mess with Basil Biscuits dessert using Mutti Passata. She wins a meal for two people at Paul Foster’s Michelin starred restaurant, Salt, Stratford Upon Avon. Third place went to George Percival from Southampton who created a starter of Ratatouille and Goats Cheese Bruschetta using Mutti Peeled Tomatoes, a main course of Chilli Squid Salad with Tomato Garlic Aioli using Mutti Puree and Mutti Passata and a dessert of Baked Ricotta with Tomato Ice Cream and a Biscuit Crumb using Mutti Polpa. George wins a cooking class for two at Eataly, London.

Zsuzsa Gosztola, Mutti Marketing Manager U.K.,Germany and Nordics, says: “2021 has been a fantastic year for Mutti, we’ve started to invest significantly in inspiring UK consumers when it comes to tomatoes and share our values of quality, sustainability and respect. We’ve now found and crowned our very deserved Golden Tomato Cook and, in the process, we’ve been able to showcase how using our products you can make your dishes taste even more delicious. Furthermore, through our ongoing marketing activities, including our first TV advertising campaign in the UK (featuring Jimmy Doherty, Francesco Mutti, owner and Ugo Peruch, Agricultural Director) we’ve been able to show consumers exactly why Mutti is different and tell the story of Mutti’s uncompromised quality and its values. We have some incredibly exciting plans and activity for 2022 and we can’t wait to share that with you all very soon.”

You can see how the final unfolded and all the excitement of the day by watching this video here:

*IRI Infoscan Census MAT ending December 2020 (volume & value share for Chopped Tomatoes, Strained Tomatoes, Peeled Tomatoes, Tomato Paste)