Dining center unit director recognized for watermelon recipe

Feb. 27, 2018 — Camille Korenek, Van Zile Dining Center unit Director, developed and entered a recipe into the 2017 Watermelon Recipe Contest sponsored by the National Watermelon Promotion Board. Her recipe — Watermelon Shrimp Spicy Crudité — was chosen by the board for use as outreach to foodservice media and possibly to serve at events.

To create each recipe, contestants were required to pick from three categories: juice, flesh or rind. Korenek chose to use rind because it was hardest to develop other than watermelon rind pickles. Her recipe combined sweet with spicy to create a unique dish.

In February, Korenek’s recipe was featured in a Foodservice Director magazine article titled “Recipe report: Celebrate the Oscars.”

The National Watermelon Promotion Board hosts a variety of contests each year, including use the whole watermelon recipe, retail display and carving contests. According to their website, the board represents “1,500 watermelon growers, shippers and importers nationwide,” with a goal to “promote the nutritional, culinary and convenience benefits of watermelon.”