Recipe to Riches Recap and Taste Test: episode 2, Jammin’ Jamaican Lobster Bisque
Category: Entrées
Winning Dish: Afghanistan vet Winslow Taylor’s Jammin’ Jamaican Lobster Bisque
Runner-Up Dishes: Melissa Gilbert’s Great Canadian Turkey Dinner and Marjan Mogharrabi’s Persian Turkey Kebabs.
This week’s audition round made one thing very clear: the Cronut epidemic has crossed into the Ontarian countryside and brutally devastated rural Canadian cookery. (Taco pizza didn’t sound too bad, but that old guy’s maple-trout-waffle concoction was wretch-inducing even in concept.) The three chosen contestants didn’t rely on hybrid gimmickry, but they did have problems of their own—especially Marjan, whose spiced turkey kebabs, while apparently delicious, unfortunately resembled baby poo. We’re guessing that’s why she was the first to go.
The marketing showdown between Melissa and Winslow might have been a close call if the set-up hadn’t been pretty unfairly skewed. Big shocker: people attending a Caribbean festival—the “neutral” marketing test-venue—were more interested in eating a thematically appropriate Caribbean soup than tucking into a festive turkey dinner. Even Melissa sensed that something wasn’t quite right about the scenario. (“Winslow’s a lucky guy—Caribbean fest, Caribbean food.”) We’re calling for a rematch—perhaps at the Santa Claus Parade?
Expectations were low heading in, as one might expect for a frozen, fishy soup. The bisque’s out-of-the-box impression didn’t do very much to raise them: one taste-tester thought the soup looked sort of lonely, “like a dish made for single people,” while others noted its murky, swampish appearance. Things got more positive once the panel dipped their spoons. Although some found the broth a bit thin and the lobster meat a bit rubbery (the phrase “frozen dinner” came up a few times), most agreed that it actually tasted pretty jammin’—like “liquefied lobster roti,” according to one convert. At the end it came down to the price point: most agreed they’d pay around three bucks for a follow-up bowl. (Its actual sale price is pretty close: $3.99).
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- The President’s Choice glamour shot
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- The actual Jammin’ Jamaican Lobster Bisque, unveiled
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- The winner of episode 2 (and jammin’ bisque inventor) <strong>Winslow Taylor</strong>
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 The three chosen contestants didn’t rely on hybrid gimmickry, but they did have problems of their own—especially Marjan, whose spiced turkey kebabs, while apparently delicious, unfortunately resembled baby poo. We’re guessing that’s why she was the first to go.
The marketing showdown between Melissa and Winslow might have been a close call if the set-up hadn’t been pretty unfairly skewed. Big shocker: people attending a Caribbean festival—the “neutral” marketing test-venue—were more interested in eating a thematically appropriate Caribbean soup than tucking into a festive turkey dinner. Even Melissa sensed that something wasn’t quite right about the scenario. (“Winslow’s a lucky guy—Caribbean fest, Caribbean food.”) We’re calling for a rematch—perhaps at the Santa Claus Parade?
THE TASTING
Expectations were low heading in, as one might expect for a frozen, fishy soup. The bisque’s out-of-the-box impression didn’t do very much to raise them: one taste-tester thought the soup looked sort of lonely, “like a dish made for single people,” while others noted its murky, swampish appearance. Things got more positive once the panel dipped their spoons. Although some found the broth a bit thin and the lobster meat a bit rubbery (the phrase “frozen dinner” came up a few times), most agreed that it actually tasted pretty jammin’—like “liquefied lobster roti,” according to one convert. At the end it came down to the price point: most agreed they’d pay around three bucks for a follow-up bowl. (Its actual sale price is pretty close: $3.99).
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I am pleasantly surprised to find that other people are raising the issue of fairness concerning the entree competition in the 2014 Recipes to Riches contest. Not only did Melissa have to compete against a Jamaican dish at a Caribbean festival, but she did so without her full complement of supporting entertainers, as her dancers never arrived. If the producers of the show have any interest in maintaining a sense of fairness and integrity then Melissa deserves a chance to have her recipe sampled by the public as well. Frankly, I found the turkey dish much more appealing than the lobster bisque, but that is obviously subjective. Galen Weston, intervene here and see to it that this injustice is corrected.
I agree completely;seemed completely unfair! Galen should respond in some way.
I tried the Lobster Bisque, I think its delicious! For a frozen, microwaved soup, it was perfect. I rarely want to buy R2R products again, however this product will end up in my shopping cart again.
The test marketing situation for the bisque vs turkey was totally unfair and the outcome was completely predictable.The producers definitely screwed up.If they’d used a loggers festival the results would have been reversed.They should test market the dishes in the store and see what happens when the general public gets to choose,not a biased crowd.
i agree with you, but you also have to look at PC’s entire lineup. They already have a turkey round with stuffing in the middle (no bacon or cranberries, though). Why would they want to replicate that? Plus, not everyone likes the cranberry sauce with the turkey dinner. I’d scoop that out
Thanks Paper Bag Princess. I agree that the decision may well have ended up the same for the reasons you have well explained, my only issue is that the process seemed unfair to Melissa.
The soup was so good, I wanted another serving as soon as I finished the first one! I will be making a special stop to buy more for the freezer, as I can see myself taking this for lunch once a week.
This was the best frozen soup I have ever tasted. I only bought 1 box at the grocery store, as I didn’t know if I would like it. Sorry to say the grocery store is sold out and they don’t know when they are getting anymore. I wish I had bought 10 of them !!!!
This soup kicks ass! Period!