GRAMMY-NOMINATED reggae artiste Jesse Royal emerged the winner of the inaugural FESGAS Celebrity Cook-Off last Thursday.

Held at Funland Jamaica, Hope Gardens, the cook-off followed the official launch of FESGAS by Future Energy Source Company (FESCO), the company’s foray into the cooking gas sector.

Media personality Noran Price was first runner-up, while consultant and imaginator Michelle Gordon finished in third place in the cook-off.

The participants were tasked with preparing a meal comprising rice and peas, brown stewed fish, tossed salad, and fried plantain, in 90 minutes.

Professional food critic Samantha George was given the responsibility to judge the meals and to determine the winner.

“The dishes were judged on several criteria, namely technique, taste, creativity, presentation, and teamwork,” George disclosed in an interview with the Jamaica Observer.

Jesse Royal was ecstatic when he was announced the winner.

“I mean, this is a regular feeling. I was born a winner. I’m just excited that there’s other people here to witness me win,” said Jesse.

The Modern-Day Judas singer said cooking is one of his favourite pastimes and that he was excited when he was approached to participate in the cook-off.

“I was excited mainly about the interaction… community gathering and cooking. Nuh everybody have money inna dem pocket, but what we have is love,” Jesse Royal shared.

The singer said that, while growing up in Maroon Town in St James, he learnt how to cook from his grandparents.

“I developed my love for food and cooking. The thing that I enjoy most about cooking is what it represents. There are a lot of hungry people in the world,” said Jesse Royal, adding, “What I enjoy most about cooking is eating! It’s just the whole process of having the family together.”

Each of the participants won for themselves a brand-new cylinder of cooking gas courtesy of FESGAS.