Harrow finalist in inaugural Big Broth event

Karen Harris, from Kenton in Harrow was a finalist at the inaugural The Big Broth competition on April 17, cooking up her hearty lentil soup dish.

The event was hosted by the UK’s leading youth homelessness charity, Centrepoint and took place at the Waitrose Cookery School in London.

Radio 2 DJ and presenter, Sara Cox hosted the pressured one-hour cook-off event and the winners were chosen by a panel of judges chaired by food critic, William Sitwell, food writer and broadcaster, Tom Parker Bowles, radio presenter Vanessa Feltz, top Italian chef, Aldo Zilli and Wahaca restaurant founder, Thomasina Miers.

The winner was awarded the chance to have their red pepper and chorizo recipe produced by Yorkshire Provender and sold in Waitrose shops from autumn, 2018.

Yorkshire Provender will donate 20p from each pot sold to Centrepoint.

The charity hope to sell over 200,000 units of the winning soup in Waitrose, and the money raised will help to give vulnerable young people a safe place to stay, get health advice and find work.

Karen, said: “The experience has been really good fun and I even got it done quicker than I thought I would. 

“My soup is a firm family favourite; I have been cooking it for 25 years with some modifications made for the competition, just for the judges.”

Richard Utting, event director from Centrepoint said: “There has always been a link between homelessness and soup, so we wanted to build on that to make a positive association with soup and give the entire nation a chance to get involved. 

“As well as raise awareness of youth homelessness in the UK, we also wanted a new way to help raise vital funds. And what better way, than through tasty food.”

Centrepoint is the leading charity for homeless young people aged 16-25 supporting over 9,200 homeless people a year.

For more information, please visit www.centrepoint.org.uk

The finalists with Radio DJ and presenter, Sara Cox