Extended Stay America has named Lauren Wyler “America’s Top Away From Home Cook,” winner of the brand’s national recipe contest with judging hosted by Food Network personality Sunny Anderson.
Wyler will receive $5,000, inclusion in Extended Stay America’s “Away From Home Cooking” cookbook, and the opportunity to share her winning recipe alongside Anderson at the Extended Stay America traveling hotel room featured at the Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by Food & Wine Oct. 16-19.
“I’m beyond excited to be chosen as the winner of Extended Stay America’s Away From Home Cooking Recipe Contest,” Wyler said. “As a stay-at-home mom, winning the contest validates that what I do is important—cooking delicious meals for my kids that introduce them to different flavors and cultures from around the country.”
Designed as an outlet for everyday cooks to showcase travel-friendly recipes that can be whipped up in an Extended Stay America kitchen, the Away From Home Cooking Recipe Contest received entries from across the nation. The four finalists competed in a high-energy hotel room cook-off at the Extended Stay America Secaucus Meadowlands in New Jersey. An expert panel of judges, including Megan Sullivan, editor of lodgingmagazine.com; Cara Eisenpress, the voice behind the popular New York City-based food blog, Big Girls Small Kitchen; and Extended Stay America’s own Chef Kay Carreon and Chief Marketing Officer Tom Seddon, critiqued the dishes.
Extended Stay America launched the recipe contest to help build brand awareness and promote the fact that its 682 hotels across the United States and Canada have fully equipped in-room kitchens. Seddon said many consumers still don’t completely understand the key differentiators of extended-stay hotels. “This is about building a connection in people’s minds that our brand exists, and we have proper kitchens in all our rooms.”
“Creating recipes for Extended Stay America’s cookbook is one of my favorite projects because it allows me to do what I love—share simple, affordable meals that can be made by everyday cooks,” Anderson said. “I loved all the entries submitted by the four finalists and hanging out with them as they prepared their dishes for the cook-off. This contest proves simple delicious dishes can be made while away from home.”
To see highlights from the contest, check out the video above.
