14 Jul PERTH FOOD COMPANY, LATASHA’S KITCHEN, WINS FOUR PRIZES INCLUDING 1ST FOR THAI RED CURRY PASTE AT AUSTR COMPETITIVE FIERY FOODS CONTEST – MR CHILLI’S NATIONAL AWARDS
1 July, 2016
PRESS RELEASE
PERTH FOOD COMPANY, LATASHA’S KITCHEN, WINS FOUR PRIZES INCLUDING 1ST FOR THAI RED CURRY PASTE AT AUSTRALIA’S MOST COMPETITIVE FIERY FOODS CONTEST –
MR CHILLI’S NATIONAL AWARDS
PERTH: The 2016 Mr Chilli Awards judging panel of top culinary experts honoured Latasha’s Kitchen with:
1st place in the Thai Category for its Thai Red Curry Paste; 3rd place in the Thai Category for Thai Massaman Curry; 2nd place in the Curry Category for Homestyle Curry Paste; and 3rd place in the Satay Category for Malaysian Satay Paste.
Curry paste specialist Latasha’s Kitchen’s winning product was applauded and judged based on Appearance, Aroma, Texture, Spice Blend, Originality and Flavour.
Latasha’s Kitchen is located in Perth and products can be purchased online at www.latashaskitchen.com.
The food company offers a wide range of curry pastes, condiments, dressings, sauces, relishes and dessert. The products are mostly sold in Australia, but Latasha’s Kitchen also exports to Singapore and Hong Kong.
Competition for the 2016 Mr Chilli Awards was tougher than ever, with a new record of 61 company entries. The total number of entries came to 272, higher than in previous years.
Latasha’s Kitchen owner, Latasha Menon, said she was delighted to win the blind-tasted Mr Chilli awards, as the high-quality award was recognition of her products’ excellence and it had generated interest in her products Australia wide. “I am driven by a passionate love of flavours, textures and colours,” Latasha said.
“I also love to inspire others to experiment, create and explore too – especially when the seasons change. I created my products to help simplify the creation of base flavours to enable anyone – whatever their age or cooking ability – to create delicious food for themselves or others. I never stop learning and experimenting.
I live for it!”
Andrew Ayoub, founder of the Mr Chilli Awards said entries came from throughout Australia and New Zealand.
“Companies from all over Australasia continue to recognize the Mr Chilli Awards as the most competitive and challenging blind taste-tested event in the country,” he said. “I’m thrilled that participation in the awards continues to increase year after year.”
Members of the Press: Would you like to try Latasha’s beautiful products? Please get in touch, we have some samples for media and food writers.
For more information contact:
Latasha’s Kitchen
Latasha Menon, +61 (0) 407442911 or info@latashaskitchen.com.au
www.latashaskitchen.com
Perth Media
Cate Rocchi, +61 (0) 428431699 or cate@perthmedia.com.au
About Mr Chilli Awards
The Mr Chilli Awards is an annual competition created by Andrew “Mr Chilli” Ayoub that recognizes the top fiery foods products in the country. It is one of the most competitive blind-tasted food competitions. Hundreds of products are entered and go through rigorous tastings to receive the top honours. Mr Chilli is based in New South Wales, Australia. For more information please visit: www.mrchilli.com.au
About Latasha’s Kitchen and its Owner Latasha Menon
Latasha’s Kitchen (the food company) was founded in 2013 by Latasha Menon, after retiring from her popular restaurant of the same name, based in Leederville, Perth, Western Australia which she ran from 2003-2013.
Latasha was born and brought up in Malaysia. Her father, as well as mother’s family, originally hailed from Kerala in Southern India. As a result, her cooking reflects the distinctive traditions of food from both South Asia and Southeast Asia. Latasha’s Malaysian-born husband is of Malaysian and Sri Lankan descent – the later also a land noted for its coconut and chilli-based curry dishes. Settling in Perth in 1994, Latasha quickly realised that Australians were unfamiliar with the many ingredients, methods and styles she took for granted growing up in a different culture. For years she harboured dreams of demonstrating her love of food through her own cafe, something that was brought to fruition in 2003. Resisting the temptation to tailor her original family recipes to suit ‘western’ palates, Latasha began converting a growing number of customers to appreciate the flavour of meat slow cooked on the bone using masala ground from scratch, with fresh ingredients and strictly no preservatives, commercial stocks or MSG.
All Latasha’s Kitchen products are certified Australian-made and crafted, using only the best local fresh ingredients and imported top-quality dried herbs and spices by Latasha in her commercial kitchen. Latasha’s Kitchen is 100% owned and operated solely by Latasha Menon.
Most products are also naturally suitable for vegetarians, pescatarians, vegans and coeliacs. They are also free of fillers, artificial preservatives, bulking agents, citric acid, colours and MSG. Every product is certified gluten and wheat-free and endorsed by Coeliac Australia.
“I’m never happier than when I am in the kitchen creating beautiful food.” Latasha Menon, owner of Latasha’s Kitchen
