Cooking Quick Behind Bars

Created: 2012-01-10 07:49 EST

Category: World > Asia Pacific

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This is a restaurant where you may not want a reservation, despite the good food that's on the menu.

Inmates at the New Bilibid Prison in Manilla swiped their usual jail outfits for orange aprons in an event dubbed "Iron Bar Chef."

Armed with skillets, woks, and tasty ingredients, the prisoners got a chance to compete in a cooking showdown.

Rommel Chua is a former cook who is serving a three year sentence.

[Rommel Chua, Inmate]:

"This is a big deal, it helps and encourages our fellow inmates who have lost hope. Even if you're behind bars you can still do what you want to do."

Six teams, made up of 3 inmates each, were given a box of ingredients, including meat, fish, vegetables, and fruits.

They had to create an appetizer, a main course, and a dessert in one hour.

The prison's chief superintendent, Richard Schwarzkopf, says cooking helps build confidence and skills the inmates can use after they are released.

[Richard Schwarzkopf, Jr., New Bilibid Prison Chief]:

"Our ultimate goal is for the inmates to be productive while in prison. That's what we want to give them. So that when the time for their freedom comes, they can be of benefit to society."

Two chefs and a blogger chose the winners - two teams which cooked up such delights as Hawaiian beef, crusty fish fillet and steamed tilapia.

The Executive Chef of All Seasons resort in Katherine, Australia, Mark Crisologo, was impressed.

[Mark Crisologo, Executive Chief, All Seasons Resort]:

"I was very surprised with the dishes that they created, with the limited time."

The inmate-chefs are serving sentences from a few years to life.

But for a short time on this day, they got to create, taste, and enjoy some of the finer things.