Aloha!  

This is it CCC…time is almost up to submit your recipes in the My Ultimate King’s Hawaiian Sandwich Challenge.  Entries are due September 2nd, so this holiday weekend is the time to turn it into high gear!

Remember, in this contest there will be 10 winners from all across the country. You could win a luxury night on the town (dinner and a limo included!) with an entourage of friends and family.  How fun is that?!

This week I wanted to talk about creative inspiration.  When creating an original recipe for a contest, where do you turn for that light bulb “aha” moment?  I have assembled some of my sources for inspiration, but I want to hear from you too.  Feel free to share any tips in the comment section!

1)  Experiment with the Classics

When coming up with a sandwich recipe, or any other contest entry, it’s always good to look to the classics for inspiration then give it your own creative twist.  For example, if you love Sloppy Joe’s, why not jazz it up with Mexican flavors and call it a Sloppy Jose!

2) Start with a Catchy Title

I don’t know about you, but sometimes a title comes to me before a recipe!  I was thinking about sandwiches and my mind went to the classic club sandwich.  Then I was flipping through channels and the iconic ’80’s John Hughes film “The Breakfast Club” was on TV.  Suddenly a title hit me:  “Breakfast Club.”   A club sandwich with breakfast inspired ingredients!

3) Follow the Trends

Current culinary trends can be a great source of inspiration.   Just like you wouldn’t wear bell bottom jeans and polyester shirts today, you don’t want to be out of the loop when it comes to food trends.  Browse the internet and food magazines to see what’s hot right now then see how you can incorporate these ingredients or techniques into your recipe development.

4) Visit Restaurants

Have a night out and call it “research!”  Visiting new restaurants and browsing the  menu can be a great source for new ideas.  It’s also fun to take concepts that chefs put on their menu and find ways to adapt it for a home cook.

In fact, did you know that King’s Hawaiian has a bakery and restaurant in LA?  I recently took a trip over there to find sandwich inspiration to share with all of you for this contest!

Take a look at that bread display…

When you walk in the front door, you are greeted with the decadent aroma of fresh baked bread.  Shelf after shelf is piled high with every variety of loaf, bun and sweet sliced bread.

Then there is a glass case overflowing with irresistable Hawaiian pastries.  (I’m filing away that inspiration for another contest later!)

This family restaurant has a large menu filled with Hawaiian classics, All-American favorites, and fusion dishes with international flair. The menu says, “the Islands’ chefs are exploring new foods with more flavor, with a mix of cultures on every plate. And that’s what we’ve prepared for you too. Attractive new foods that are your connection to the new Hawaii.”

I ordered the “Macnut Curried Mahi Mahi.”  It is a filet of mahi mahi fish with a breading of curry seasonings, panko, and chopped macadamia nuts.  It was served with a house curry sauce that was so good I asked for extra!  On the side they served pickled baby bok choy and sweet potato hash.  Of course, there was a beautiful orchid flower on the dish for garnish.

This menu item sparked the idea for my fish sandwich recipe, “Asian Fish Sandwich with Sweet and Spicy Mayo.”  This weekend, get out and explore an exciting restaurant near you!   Take a good look at the menu and see if you can find inspiration for a sandwich entry.   Just make sure you write up your recipe and take a photo before the deadline on Monday, September 2nd.

Good luck CCC!  I hope to see some of your names on the winners list!