Chef bags £500 with Tilda’s Basmati Bonanza!

A chef is celebrating after winning £500 cash thanks to Tilda! As part of the rice people’s 50^th anniversary celebrations, Tilda’s Basmati Bonanza is giving foodservice chefs the chance to win big cash prizes by finding a highly sought-after Golden Ticket in 5Kg and 10Kg bags of Tilda Easy Cook Basmati.

Sous Chef, Phil Samuel from Bagshot Park, one of CHD Living’s Rehabilitation Centres won one of the top prizes during his service at the facility.

Speaking of the win, Phil Samuel, who has been a dedicated cost sector chef for 35 years said;

“Finding the Golden Ticket was a pleasant surprise to say the least! I’d noticed the promotion on the bag but hadn’t thought too much of it, I’d thought – ‘what are the chances I’d win!’ I was throwing the bag into the bin when I noticed that something had fallen out. Picking it up I realised what the ticket was – it was a real Charlie and the Chocolate Factory moment!”

Bagshot Park offers specialised facilities for people with neurological disorders and injuries. The aim of this centre is to get patients to a stage where they can live their lives independently and as their needs vary, so too does the catering. The highly skilled team cater to a wide range of diets to suit patients’ needs, ensuring each option is tasty and nutritious.

Samuel adds;

“It’s incredibly rewarding to work here as we can see the positive impact that food has on a patient’s life. We’re able to give them something enjoyable to eat and help improve their diets. It’s great to see people progress on their journey, for example when they move from puree diets to solids, and we can assist their recovery.”

Tilda’s Easy Cook Basmati is the rice of choice at both centres as it’s easy to work with and is popular for its anti-stick and holding abilities. As a superb accompaniment, it is especially popular in dishes that are highly spiced like their Middle Eastern curries. The Bagshot Centre champions comfort food with the focus on ‘good home cooking’ for its patients, with each dish being served with a choice of sides including Tilda Basmati rice.

Speaking of the prize, Annette Coggins, Head of Foodservice, Tilda UK says:

“The Basmati Bonanza is about chefs like Phil – it’s about saying thank you to the chefs that work so hard in the industry that we all hold so dearly. It’s extremely humbling to hear about Phil. His dedication to what he does each day in such a selfless role is very inspiring. Congratulations chef, we hope you enjoy this well-deserved prize!”

With a remaining £500 still up for grabs and the £1000 jackpot yet to be found, chefs are being encouraged to check their Tilda Easy Cook Basmati bags now and enter the Basmati Bonanza by 31^st March 2022. To learn more about the Basmati Bonanza and how to get involved, visit https://www.tilda.com/professionals/blog/news/basmati-bonanza/.