Fadama Zongo crowned Happy FM Salah Fest 2022 Winners
Fadama Zongo has won the annual ‘Salah Food Fest’ cooking contest organized by Accra-based radio station Happy98.9FM.
It was truly Allah’s will for Team Insha Allah, representing Fadama Zongo who emerged victorious over the other nine (9) competing communities.
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The contest saw 3-member teams each from Kasoa, Tuba, Ashaiman, Madina, Sabon, Nima, Alajo, Maamobi, Abeka and Fadama Zongo battle it out in the kitchen for the most coveted prize pot and bragging rights.
Fadama Zongo didn’t only manage to steal the show, but went ahead to wrestle the title from Kasoa Zongo to reclaim their throne as the best cooks amongst the capital’s Zongos.
The contest which took place on July 16, 2022, saw listeners of Happy98.9FM as well as the friends and family of contestants gathered at the Fadama Lorry Station to celebrate the rich culture and traditions of the Muslim community.
Team Insha Allah walked home with a big fat cow as the ultimate winner and assorted products from Tasty Tom Enriched Tomato Mix, Royal Aroma Fortified Rice, HD+, Bigoo Drinks, Verna Water and Cedar Bakes. Representatives from Madina Zongo and Maamobi Zongo also walked away with GHc1,000 and GHc500 as second and third place winners respectively. Other participating teams also received products from the sponsors and certificates of participation.
The competition which saw contestants bring out their A-game was flawlessly executed from the purchasing of food items to the final part; preparing the amazing dishes. In the end, Fadama Zongo wowed the judges to emerge winners of the contest after preparing Lagba (Tuo Zaafi made with rice and ayoyo, dried okra and kuka soups). The judges did not only grade their food as top notch, but described their customised dish presentation as one that was "out of the box".
Contestants were scored based on hygiene, plating/aesthetics, taste and execution, creativity and originality, teamwork and discipline and the Bigoo moment (A mystery challenge to create a dessert out of any Bigoo drink flavor).
The grand finale of the 2022 ‘HappyFM Salah Food Fest’ contest, aside from the myriad of activities to engage patrons also featured exciting musical performances from musicians, Fameye and Rashid Metal.
Programmes Manager for Happy98.9FM, Elwood Mantey said: "We've achieved what most believed was impossible not only by dint of hard work, but with the support of my team and all contestants. This contest has changed the perception about Zongo communities and shown how united and supportive they are of each other. It's been an amazing run and we as HappyFM are glad to be the intitiators and organisers of this novel event. It is with a broad smile that I say a big thank you to the management of HappyFM, the office of the National Chief Imam, our Events and Promotions Team and our dear sponsors for making this happen."
The 2022 ‘HappyFM Salah Food Fest’ contest was sponsored by HD+, Tasty Tom Enriched Tomato Mix, Royal Aroma Fortified Rice, Bigoo Drinks and Cedar Bakes.