Amateur Adobo Competitor Profile - Jenny McCray
Jenny McCray - Amateur Adobo 1st Place
How does it feel to have your adobo recognized by the judges?
Winning Adobo throwdown 3.0 gave me confidence to compete for the professional level competition next year. I feel honored, my family, friends and colleagues are so proud of me.
Can you tell us a bit about your background in cooking? How did you first get started?
I learned how to cook at a young age, I have always been experimental in creating my dishes. I won a few cooking competitions in Italy, Japan, and Germany, I am not a professional chef but cooking is my passion and the kitchen is my happy place.
What inspired your adobo recipe? Is there a story or personal connection behind it?
My winning adobo recipe was inspired by my late grandma Amy, growing up I always enjoyed watching her cook for fiesta events, she didn't use measuring cups or spoons to add flavor to her cooking but it always tasted the same or sometimes even better.
Did you face any challenges while preparing your dish for the competition? How did you overcome them?
This year I did not face any challenges as I was ready compared to previous competition.
What was the most memorable moment for you during the Adobo Throwdown?
It was a memorable moment as my family, friends and colleagues came to cheer for me.
If you could offer one piece of advice to future competitors in the Amateur Adobo Competition, what would it be?
Always cook from your heart and rest will follow.
Who or what has been your biggest influence in your cooking journey?
My late grandma Amy and Anthony Bourdain have been my influence in my cooking journey, they both inspired me to be creative with every dish I prepared.
I love using Mama Sita's seasoning products, I actually used Mama Sita's adobo mixed to marinate the meat, it gives a special aroma to my winning Adobo.