This year, our very own Chef Elizabeth Mackenzie took part in the StrEATfood Awards and cooked her way straight to the finals. The awards bring together some of the UK’s most creative street-food chefs, and Elizabeth stood proudly among 15 talented competitors, each presenting their signature dishes and technical skills to the judges. It was an inspiring celebration of passion, flavour, and culinary ambition.
For Elizabeth, while it was “both exciting and nerve-racking,” it also meant stepping outside her comfort zone, which didn’t come naturally.
“This was a real challenge, but also a great opportunity to grow. After Michael’s success in last year’s competition, it was a thrill to have Fooditude in the running again. It gave us a chance to highlight the trends and innovations we’re exploring in food, showcase our focus on sustainability, and continue pushing forward as a team.”
With the support of her team, Elizabeth decided to take on the challenge. “Normally, I probably would have said no out of nerves, but knowing that Michael and Matt had done it before made me feel supported. The team was amazing too, offering guidance and reassurance, which gave me the confidence to go for it. It just felt like the right moment to push myself and grow both personally and professionally.”
For the competition, Elizabeth created a dish that reflected both her personal story and Fooditude’s values.
“I wanted a dish that showed our commitment to sustainability and drew from my childhood favourites that my mum cooked. It evolved into a spicy duck and crispy rice sub, a mash-up of Vietnamese, Thai, and American street food,” she said, adding that it felt like the perfect dish to share.
At the finals, Elizabeth was excited to meet fellow chefs and experience the thrill of the competition. “Meeting the other chefs, seeing what everyone is doing, and that rush of adrenaline. I knew it’d be intense and over in a heartbeat.”
Elizabeth’s journey at the StrEATfood Awards perfectly captures her creativity, passion, and dedication to sustainability and we’re thrilled to have had her representing Fooditude with such energy and heart.
Previous post
