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From Home Furnishing Business
Ikea Contest to Celebrate Dining, Family Recipes
September 10,
2015 by in Furniture Retailing, Industry, Special Events 
Ikea U.S. is celebrating dining, family and cherished family recipes with the kick off of its Together, We Eat.
The consumer contest is geared to finding the 50 best consumer stories behind family recipes, celebrating the power of connection that food and the activities around it—from preparing to serving to eating—can bring. The contest recognizes the moments that take place in the kitchen, bringing to life some of the best food traditions from people across the country. Running through Oct. 27, Ikea is asking Americans to share the recipes, and the tales behind their favorite dishes to demonstrate how the cooking and sharing of these meals have brought their loved ones together.
Participants can submit recipes and stories online. Fifty winners will be chosen and have their recipes and stories highlighted, including three grand-prize winners to be announced in December.
Throughout the program, Together, We Eat ambassador, culinary personality and television host, Katie Lee, will share personal stories and recipes to serve as inspiration for consumers. “For me, cooking wasn’t just a hobby growing up — it was a way of life,” Lee said. “I grew up in a tight-knit family where each evening centered around the dinner menu. I began cooking when I was only 4 years old with my grandmother. Food is the great connector, and several of my best memories are around the dinner table. I know this is true for many people, which is why I’m so thrilled to join Ikea for this effort.”
Together, We Eat is a part of a yearlong effort by the retailer focusing on everyday life in and around the kitchen.
“At Ikea, we understand that there is so much more to food than food,” said Lisa Hajra, Together, We Eat project leader with Ikea. “Simply being together to talk, laugh and reconnect in the kitchen and around the table is just as important as the food itself. With Together, We Eat, we hope to curate the best examples of meaningful family food stories and through those, inspire people to make more food-related memories together.”