Last night’s episode, the final one before viewers get to choose the best of the best (voting runs December 5 to 7), was certainly bittersweet: on the one hand, there will be no more new products; but on the other hand, there will be no more new products. This season has been a bit of a mixed bag, and after watching each show and trying each dish, we can authoritatively state that we’re not quite sure how Recipe to Riches works. Oh, we get the format, sure, but we still can’t pin down the culinary voodoo at work in PC’s test kitchen, nor can we trace each marketing decision back to some trove of demographic data. We only know that Galen Weston Jr. and crew seem to pick a meatball for every brownie. Looking ahead to the grand prize, we hope the public makes a better call.
Mini-Recap
The most entertaining part about the opening round was probably Jesse Palmer’s attempt at comedy. The former football player tried to crack a joke about the contestants being guinea pigs since the Condiments and Dips category was new this year, but only managed to evoke nervous laughter. Competing this time around: Toronto’s Courtney O’Leary, who wisely rechristened her bizarrely named Ready-Made Topper as Gourmet Mushroom Topping; Cathy Ferguson, who brought a Reuben sandwich–inspired Montreal Deli Dip; and Kayode Atobatele, whose product was a hot sauce called Tobman’s Sauce of Joy. The batch-up challenge required contestants to prepare 75 litres of their dish (we half expected Ferguson to batch up some Reubens and throw them in a blender). Atobatele’s sauce actually improved through the batch-up, but the other two suffered, especially O’Leary: her topping ended up gluey and her mushrooms were overpowered, leaving her on the outs. Given Atobatele’s great batch-up performance, the competition was now his to lose—plus, he’s clearly an extrovert, smiling more often than not, and seems like a TV natural. But Ferguson displayed some true marketing grit, sticking with her product name (a move Tony Chapman approved of) and deploying a Montreal-style street food and circus concept (complete with bagel juggler), which earned her twice the number of people sampling her product as Atobatele. In the end, it was a close call. Weston thought Atobatele’s sauce had the potential to be the best hot sauce on the Loblaws shelves (high praise indeed), and found Ferguson’s concept “off-putting” (we can sympathize). But as Dana McCauley pointed out, the deli dip had a decided “water-cooler effect” advantage, which ultimately was enough for the judges to give her the nod.
Best line: McCauley, on Atobatele’s hot sauce: “This is almost a solvent.”
Best product not to be picked by the judges: Jar Full of Love
Tasting
We hate to say it, but Galen really should’ve gone with his gut on this one, because the concept truly is off-putting. Some things just can’t be made more convenient, and a Reuben sandwich, itself not even terribly inconvenient to begin with, is one of them. (Note: if you want cocktail party–ready Reubens, just make smaller sandwiches.) Our panel is rarely unanimous—even the best and worst dishes faced some devil’s advocacy—but there were no such complications with the Deli Dip. It’s just gross, from it’s meat-flecked pastel orange colour to its Big Mac sauce taste and lumpy texture (we’ll insert our usual caveat that the homemade version might well have been better). One panelist, a former resident of Montreal, said this tasted nothing like the sandwiches at the delis he frequented, while another likened the dip to that city’s fiasco with its mayor. We can only suggest purchasing it if you can somehow find a way to un-purée it into an actual Reuben sandwich.
Suggested pairing: Chuck it and get a real Reuben.
Aw, I was hoping Tobman would take it.
What a disappointment!!! I was looking forward to trying this hot sauce.
That looks absolutely revolting.
People buy that crap?
Kayode should become a regular on a cooking show! He is a natural and a wasted TV talent!!! :)
Does that mean they will not make the hot sauce?. Now that I would definately buy. Never buy dips. Just another junk food snack. Hot sauce can be added to anything being cooked. What a shame
OH WOW Montreal Deli Style dip is THE winner. Couldn’t buy on the wkend…sold out…purchased today & served hot…DELICIOUS the price is excellent.With the holidays approaching,always looking for convenience ,& with this product, I’m getting soooo much more. Looking fwd to voting….
I bought the Montreal deli style dip- it is absolutely revolting, don’t know what the judges were thinking. Looks like dog food, smells awful , it went right into the garbage.
Bought the Montreal Dip . Delicious hot or cold . Going to stock up for Xmas . My company just loved it when I served this week It’s very tasty and IT’S DEFINITELY NOT JUNK
I’M TELLING ALL MY FRIENDS ABOUT THIS. IT’S A VERY GOOD DIP VERY FILLING . DEFINITELY IS NOT JUNK FOOD.
I was really looking forward to trying Tobman’s Firestarter/Sauce of Joy. The deli dip doesn’t look all that appetizing, but the hot sauce looked incredibly interesting. It was visually appealing (very colourful) and had lots of habaneros. I would go buy that in a heartbeat if they put it on shelves, and I’m sure many others would too.
Anna Morison: How could you compare this delicious dip to Dog Food? It’s totally different from the rest of the dips (spinach/atrichoke/hummus) out there and definitely satisfying to the pallet! Warm it up so the cheese melts and see what you guests will say!! I heard nothing but compliments at my party last weekend!
People, don’t listen to these critics for $3.99 a piece, I’m sure you can try it yourselves and come to your own conclusion.
the Montreal dip looks like it’s been vomitted up.
I have to agree with you, we thought we would try it after watching the show. My husband eats a lot of dips and would not eat this. I tried to give it to my dog and she would not touch it ether. So into the toilet it went! I think the other contestant on the show should have won!!!
I always look to see how its doing because we did not like it at all. The shelf is always full and has lots of half price ones. So I asked the store why, they said they find it to be a pour seller and may not continue to carry it if the sales do not pick up!
It is!