Del Monte Names Final ‘Find Your Inner Chef’ Winner

Del Monte Fresh Produce has named Gisele Rainville of Drummondville, Quebec Canada the fourth and final winner of its “Find Your Inner Chef” online contest. Rainville will move on to the final round and compete at the Cook Off Challenge in Miami, Fla., with the three other finalists.

“Gisele’s winning breakfast recipe, Scones Ananas / Canneberges (Pineapple Cranberry Scones) using Del Monte fresh pineapple is a complement to our chef contest,” said Dennis Christou, VP of Marketing, North America for Del Monte. “Her breakfast scones not only demonstrate her creativity, but also a great way to incorporate fresh fruit in tasty breakfast pastries.”

The contest encourages consumers to participate in a fresh culinary experience by creating or using their favorite recipe with Del Monte fresh fruits and vegetables. Daily prizes include retail gift cards, culinary kitchen tools and tabletop appliances.

“My passion is in pastries, so my Pineapple Cranberry Scones is always a special treat,” Rainville said. “When deciding which Del Monte fresh fruit to use in my recipe, the pineapple was my first choice because they’re so fresh and juicy. I have no formal culinary skills, but learned how to bake from my mother. My goal is to win the Cook Off so I may attend the institute to gain valuable culinary skills to continue my passion in pastry baking.”

All four finalist wins were the result of the recipes' appeal, use of Del Monte products and the number of “likes” and tweets through social media.

Coral Gables, Fla.-based Del Monte Fresh Produce is one of North America’s leading marketers and distributors of high-quality fresh and fresh-cut fruit and vegetables.