Recipe to Riches: Ep 1 recap

A sponsored post for Woolworths

So did you watch the show last night? I watched it because I am a terrible reality TV junkie and lover of food shows and what’s one more to add to my mix? The premise of the show is normal everyday people taking their own special home cooked recipes that they have been preparing for friends and family for years to see if they can translate their recipes on a commercial-scale and then in turn market it and try to see if they can take it all the way to sell to everyday people like you and me at their local Woolies. I love this idea – that the food that has been created by love and tradition is translated commercially into the wider market. A nice change I think! Each week there is a different theme: man food, food for thought etc and this week we had…snack attack.

After a few rounds of people we were presented with 3 contestants who had to see if their recipe would translate on a commercial-scale to come down to two people and their products: a potato bake with pumpkin soup and a bacon and rice croquette. From there we saw market research, brand development, packaging and marketing and eventually a winner…being the humble croquette made by Connie.

R1

I think I may have been the first person in Australia to purchase a packet of these from my local Woolies at 7am to see how they were and report back. Each week the winning product is available in store the very next day for a week and then the eventual grand finalist winner gets $100k and a life changing partnership with Woolworths. I was interested to see how they would ACTUALLY look and taste and see if I would be inevitably disappointed as I usually am when I do purchase frozen stuff either for the kids as a reserve or as an emergency stash for drinks or the like. Yes! I do that too.

Here they are: Don’t you love the way products are shot on packets and then you see what they REALLY look like? They were $6 ($5.99) for a pack of 10.

R2

Here they were before they went into the oven. They recommended 12 mins, but I went for more like 20. I must say I was pleasantly surprised when I opened the packet.

R3

And then after the 20 mins and a few turns.

R4

And then MY version of the packet shot:

R5

Certainly a little crumblier, but I think that was because I opened them up when they were straight out of the oven and if I’d left them a little while they would have firmed up again.

So, what’s my thoughts? I didn’t want to like them…but I did. They were REALLY good. THIS is an option I would throw into my freezer to give my kids for dinner when I was being lazy. Rice, bacon, parsley and parmesan. Dead set, they were yum. I served them to Harps who smashed 4 in quick succession (wow, there’s a surprise) and she promptly declared them to be delicious. She even said that they were “crispy on the outside and soft in the middle”. Just like the packet. I kid you not.

I reckon Connie did a great job. And what a thrill she must have had going into her supermarket this morning and seeing them there! I’m interested to see how the rest of the show goes and I will make sure I grab some more of these this week to keep in my freezer.

I wonder what recipe I would put forward for this week’s challenge of snack attack? Maybe my mini sauso rolls? Or quiches. I suppose they have all been done before.

What about you?
Did you watch the show?
What family favourite recipe of yours do you think would translate to a supermarket shelf?

Recipes to Riches airs Channel 10 Tuesday nights 7.30pm

Comments

  1. Leonie Ripper says

    I auditioned for the show!!!! it was good probably not what I thought it was going to be…. love the concept…

    • BabyMacBlogBeth says

      That’s great! What did you make?!

      • Leonie Ripper says

        I made gnocchi… didnt make the cut… but was fun all the same and I have to say it was a the start to some incredible oopportunites in the last year….I had a go at things and turns out stepping well and truly out of your comfort zone can somethimes bring you the most unlikely opportunities and gifts…. I have cooked and dined with George Calombaris, become a Bulla ambassador and the doors just keep on opening…. never afraid to give anything a go! now to masterchef or not????

        • BabyMacBlogBeth says

          That’s SO fabulous! Such a great story too…I firmly believe in all that – nothing different will ever change if you don’t push yourself out of your comfort zone. That’s where the magic happens! Well bloody DONE. And YES. Masterchef. Do it. That’s an order.

        • Emma Steendam says

          Yes masterchef! I would love to do that (but am no cook, well not of that standard) GO FOR IT! We applied for the block once upon a time…we should’ve applied again.

        • Have a go at master chef – I made the top 100 last year. It was the most fun (didn’t audition this time around as I was pregnant)…but enjoy everything as it comes

  2. I liked the show too … I like the possibility of it. That someone can make something and have on the shelves at Woolies. I think I’d do one of my dips … smoked salmon.

  3. Julia Watson says

    I didn’t watch the show, but I DID buy the croquettes in Woolies tonight. Love the sound of them, will give them a try tomorrow.

  4. Emma Steendam says

    I feared this was coming…when I first saw the ads (oh the CONSTANT ads!) for this show, massive alarm bells went off in my head. I turned to hubby and said sadly that Woolworths were upping their game. Or Coles. One of them. It reeked. Then I saw that you and some other bloggers were at Woolworths HO. I get that marketing is a smarty smart smart game these days, I get it, the goal posts have been moved, but this just seems TOO much of an invasion/shove down my throat. Of course, it’s also a stroke of brilliant genius. I don’t know really what to think of it all…it just doesn’t sit well with me is all. As I’m tapping away on my blog my husband often asks me if I got offered to do sponsored posts from the likes of Woolies/Coles (snort, as if!) would I do it? I honestly don’t know. I don’t think so. I’ve worked in the cut throat produce industry, buying and selling, managing logistics into that giant Woolworths HO, been on the other end of Mr Woolworths chain of command. It’s a scary place we had to walk away from, best decision we’ve ever made.

    Connie’s croquettes look great styled by you Beth. Rant over.

    • BabyMacBlogBeth says

      Thanks for your rant Emma. You know how much I respect your opinion and I’m glad you put it out there. Here’s the thing. I shop at Woollies. I do! I also support local farmers and get organic stuff delivered too. I watch intellectual stuff on TV and I also watch really shitty stuff too – like Housewives of the EVERYTHING. Sometimes I read interesting stuff, and other times I need it to just be the Daily Mail. For me, this TV show is a great idea – giving regular people a chance to get their recipes on a supermarket shelf and maybe getting some commercial success along the way. I am not so naive to think that Woollies want something out of it – of course they do – but I still think that this lady Connie would have been stoked yesterday and as a fellow home cook and lover of food and I wish her all the best.

      I liked the croquettes. I did! I like the idea of the show. And sometimes I really like to eat mock cream when I know it’s not good for me. I appreciate your insights being so involved in the back end scenes and I don’t pretend to know or understand what all that means or feels like. I’m the one that has to feel comfortable with what I put on here. I stand by everything, make some mistakes no doubts as I go along, and it’s not something that I take on lightly – I respect and appreciate every single person that comes on here and reads what I might have to say.

      So, thank you for your rant. I’m listening. I really am. As as for the styling? It was pretty shit I thought. I didn’t even have cutlery or flowers placed just so! But I will buy these again because my kid ate them, I liked them and sometimes you just can’t be bothered to make croquettes yourself right?

      • Emma Steendam says

        I hear ya. I shop at Woolies too. Interesting funny old world we live in…
        And good on Connie, I think I’d do my cookie dough cheesecake 🙂

  5. Bree Di Mattina says

    I thought they would have more than 3 options. I’m glad Connie won because although I thought the packaging on the other one was better it was just stodge. I’m wondering if all the options will be this type of frozen food or will we see some fresher things? I like fresher things.

    • BabyMacBlogBeth says

      Yeah I’m not sure. I am ALL for fresher stuff too…I’ll be interested to keep watching to see what they come up. If it’s all frozen I think they will lose a few viewers. For supermarkets though, I guess it’s all about convenience. I do know one of the weeks is healthy for you or something…surely that will be fresh!!

  6. MotherDownUnder says

    I have never heard of this show…I suppose that makes sense as I rarely watch tv.
    I will have to look for these next time I am in Woolies…I am curious about what her recipe was versus the ingredients listed in the supermarket version.
    And I do worry about Coles and Woolies taking over the country…supermarkets, liquor stores, petrol stations, even car insurance! Crazy!

  7. ahoy.jenni says

    I didn’t watch the show, I was studying….aka reading and commenting on blogs.
    I think the quality of frozen food has improved heaps, I mean for gods sake you can get Linda McCartney frozen vegetarian lasagnas! What next? I really like the indian pumpkin bites, have you tried them, I don’t know the brand. Very handy…..

  8. Cara MacBain says

    I will be buying these tomorrow thanks to your words today – look like just what I need to feed the kids when I’m feeling lazy. Plus they look yum! and they aren’t frozen fish fingers or nuggets which make me feel bad when I feed the kids that.

    • BabyMacBlogBeth says

      I just can’t give my kids nuggets anymore. But when I am lazy I do want an alternative besides toasted sambos or boiled eggs.

  9. I like ordinary people being given chances to have a go at something. Funds directed in that way are rad. I also like nice food!

  10. Gail Virgona says

    One of the many things I love about your blog and others Beth is the debate it allows us to take part in – I love reading everyone’s comments. It challenges my thoughts on these sorts of topics. I know we’re not exactly discussing world peace today but it’s obviously something we all feel something about. I didn’t see the show. Watched a a review on The Age website and then hot footed it to Woolies to try them because they have potato, cheese and bacon and they looked crispy. They had me at hello. Also never ever buy frozen food for the kiddies but had mother working guilt yesterday so decided to get them a treat and they loved them. Luca woofed down three before your could say Go Woolies. Thought they were pricey at $6 for only 10. They aren’t going to last long around here.

    I work in marketing so I always find it fascinating when someone else’s marketing works on me. I want to high five them. I am also always naturally sceptical of naff marketing but I think this is clever and I think the winners are the contestants who may just get a great business out of it. And Woolies of course but that’s ok with me. I shop at Woolies too.

    I’d watch this over Masterchef ANY day of the week. Good on them for doing something a bit different. I’d rather put my head in a bucket of water than watch Masterchef or Come Dine with Me.

  11. I’m sure it’s a fabulous concept however the never ending ads with all the dancing and the singing and the bloody network cross promotion, well it made me want to punch myself in the face, so I couldn’t even bring myself to turn it on. Surely we will get a break from cooking shows soon?! these networks should be pumping their money into good Aussie drama instead.
    tx
    ps I do however LOVE croquettes so I would def give these a run. Little crunchy morsels of deliciousness 🙂

    • BabyMacBlogBeth says

      Why can’t they bring back I Rock? (sorry bad joke it was a show Rob wrote and directed for ABC 2 a few years back…)

  12. I bloody well missed the show! Hoping to catch it on the net though. These look great! I love a croquette.

  13. Lisa Mckenzie says

    I forgot to watch the show ,though really like the idea of it and I will get a packet of those tasty looking croquets to put in the freezer.I am not sure what I would make, so many recipes in my head!

  14. these are going in my freezer – if you like ’em I’m in, however I am not sure how well they will feed a 6ft2 teenager??? perhaps arvo tea would be more suited to them in this place 😉

  15. I didn’t watch the show – I normally boycott all things woolies. They double charged my husband’s credit card and when we went in to discuss it with them they said they weren’t going to do anything about it and if we wanted our money back we should go to the police! No customer service what so ever.

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