Berepele emerges winner of Hansik cooking contest

By Ochiaka Ugwu

Patience Berepele has emerged the overall winner of 2024 Hansik (Korean Food) Contest held on Saturday in Abuja with a One Million Naira price tag.

The final contest saw Victor Mac-Adonai coming second and getting N700, 000, while Yahaya Umar Bindow clinched the third position with N400, 000 prize.

Speaking during the contest, Director of Korea Cultural Centre, Nigeria, Mr. Kim Chang Ki said the contest was meant to deepen cultural relations of Korea and Nigeria which made the contestants prepare Korean cuisine with a blend of Nigerian ingredients.

Patience Berepele, a Guidance Counselor and Reverend Minister who emerged the overall winner said she was excited for taking the first position.

She said it was a keen contest where everyone put in their best and really worked hard to win the coveted position.

Perebele who believed that her wining was divine said her love for cooking prompted her to join the contest and greatly helped her to win.

She also informed that her passion for other peoples’ culture attracted her to Korean culture which she said was surrounded with uniqueness.

Perebele was full of praise for Korean Cultural Centre, Nigeria for organizing the cooking event stating that it had exposed her to Korean culture.

Also speaking, Victor Mac-Adonai who came second said you must be imaginative to be a good cook, maintaining that his strong heart and desire to try new things helped him at the contest.

“You must be imaginative, strong-hearted. You must try things that may not even work, and you must not let anyone define your limits. Anyone can cook! Yes! But only the fearless can be great. A cook makes food! I love food! Therefore, I love to cook” he said.

Yahaya Umar Bindow who revealed that he made fried chicken with spiced sauce said he was happy to have clinched the third position and would be ready for another contest.

“I made one spicy thing and another nice thing to cool your mouth after you must have eaten it. I am extremely happy to be the second runner up after three rounds of competition. I am super grateful for all the support I had from my friends and family.

“I thank the Korean Cultural Centre, Nigeria for giving me the opportunity to participate in this Hansick contest and I look forward in participating in the next one” he said.