Churchtown baker is category winner in search to find nation’s best banana recipes

Harini Sonpal, from Churchtown, has been chosen as a top winner in the recent nationwide search by banana importer Fyffes to find Ireland’s most imaginative meal-makers.

In topping the ‘best non bake’ category, Harini fought off stiff competition from the large volume of competitors who responded to the invitation fronted by well-known television cook, Donal Skehan – whose previous collaborations with Fyffes led to the discovery of Ireland’s most creative banana bread bakers and banana dessert makers.

This year, Skehan broadened his search to find the most delicious dish, from first to final course, savoury or sweet, in which a banana is the key ingredient.

Describing the quest, Skehan called it “a challenge to mums, dads and the younger generation to create an appetising recipe that will demonstrate the versatility of bananas as an ingredient, whether in meals that are cooked, baked, boiled, blended and everything in between.”

Having recently got married and moved to Churchtown from Mumbai, Harini has established her own home baking business, specialising in Indian fusion desserts.

In creating her prize-winning ‘banoffee pie’, Harini designed a classic biscuit base, combined with fresh bananas, caramel sauce, whipped cream and topped off with chocolate flakes.

Congratulating Harini on her success which she says ‘demonstrates the obvious dedication and enthusiasm she puts into her culinary creations’, Fyffes head of marketing, Emma Hunt-Duffy went on the praise all those who entered the competition, adding “it was particularly pleasing to see the incredible levels of skill and creativity amongst those who took part, not least the younger, next generation of home baking enthusiasts”.

Other category winners in the competition are: 10-year old Savanna Pascoe, from Rathnew (Best Junior Baker under 12 years); 14-year old Rachel Hanley from Lanesborough (Best Junior Baker aged 13 – 17); Cynthia Wong from Monasterevin (Best Breakfast); 14-year old Elliott Stokes from Caherconlish (Best Savoury); Kiera Stewart from Dripsey (Best Dessert); Alline Isense Dalpiaz from Cahersiveen (Best Vegan) and 12-year old Aoife Flood, from Rathangan, (Overall Winner).

Further details of each category winner and their winning recipes can be viewed on www.facebook.com/FyffesIreland/