Give Paccini your recipe, make some dough

In an effort to build the already blossoming community at campus spot Paccini Restaurant & Bar, owner Jason Kallingal will be holding a contest starting today titled “Recipe Exchange.” The contest will allow students to submit a recipe, and if it is chosen as a winner, it will be placed as a special on the menu for a limited amount of time. The winning student will gain 10 percent of the profit the dish makes when it’s on the menu.

Kallingal feels that this contest fits in with the overall ambiance that Paccini strives to provide for its students.

“Paccini focuses on comfort food, and we want to provide students food that makes them feel at home.  When I went to college, I craved certain dishes that reminded me of home, but never had any space or time to cook them. This is an effort to provide that for students,” Kallingal said.

The recipes will be submitted via e-mail and tested amongst Kallingal and the cooks from Paccini’s kitchen, who are all culinary students from the Portland area. When the winning recipe is chosen, the student will be taken in to the kitchen to provide specific instructions for the cooks, ensuring that the dish is prepared just right.

In addition to the prize money, a photo of the winning student will also be displayed in the restaurant, accompanied by a bio, interesting facts and a background of the dish.

So, what will the winning Paccini recipe be like? Well, for starters, it needn’t be only Italian food. Kallingal is confident that the recipe with the most soul will likely be the winner of the contest.

“We are just looking for comfort food.  That can be anything, from any different ethnic cuisine, as long as it is delicious and makes you feel good.  It can be a baked item, a dessert, an entree, anything. It might be a delicious chili or cupcake…anything!  We are looking for dishes that are imaginative and original, but also simple and that can be made beforehand or quickly.  I want to keep it open so students can use their creativity,” Kallingal said.      

He stresses that although the creative aspects of this dish are extremely encouraged, it is also important that the ingredients are easily obtainable. The winning recipe will also be written in a clear, concise and detailed manner so when the cooks test the recipe, it will be easily recreated.

Kallingal, himself a former student at Portland State, appreciates that PSU is abundant with thriving talent. In the first installment of this recipe contest (he intends on having more in the future), he hopes to allow students to share their passion with the rest of their community, using Paccini as an easel for their culinary art.

“The Recipe Exchange is one of many programs that Paccini features to showcase student talent. We feature all student art on our walls, we employ students as cooks, bartenders and servers, and we host student bands and open mic nights. It is my goal to use the restaurant as a stage for student talent.  I believe one of the greatest resources that we have at this location is the talent and creativity of the students, and this is a way of showcasing that,” Kallingal said. ?