Nadia Heisler, winner of the Bacon Battle at Cochin Days. (Brad Best/battlefordsNOW)

By battlefordsNOW Staff

Bacon Battle

Cochin Days’ Bacon Battle highlights international dish

Aug 13, 2023 | 11:04 AM

The secret ingredient was manioc flour. The best ingredient…the bacon!

Nadia Heisler came away the big winner of the Mitchell’s Bacon Battle event Saturday as part of Cochin Days.

“I’m very surprised but grateful to be the winner at Cochin Days here with Mitchell’s bacon,” said Heisler.

Mayor of Cochin. Harvey Walker was among the judges who got to taste the dishes of the three finalists: Talia William’s jalapeno poppers, Sandi Funk’s maple bacon cinnamon buns and Heisler’s ‘Cowboy Beans’ also known as Feijão Tropeiro – a dish from her home state in Brazil. It’s made with beans, bacon, sausage, vegetables, eggs and manioc flour which comes from the cassava root vegetable.

“That’s the secret ingredient,” said Heilser. “It’s actually a very old recipe. It was made by the cowboys back in the day during colonization in times when they travelled long expeditions and had to have a very hearty, filling meal – which it is. I introduced it to my Canadian family and they all love it and it’s a staple in our house.”

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Emcee Grant Schutte from CJNB/CJNS with Bacon Battle competitors Nadia Heisler, Talia Williams and Sandi Funk. (Brad Best/battlefordsNOW)

In addition to bragging rights, Heisler also wins a year’s worth of Mitchell’s bacon and $1,000 to her charity of choice BCG Battlefords, formerly known as Boys & Girls Clubs of Battlefords.

“I’m a bacon lover – so creativity will be coming my way and we’ll be eating lots of bacon this next year to come.”

A crowd at Cochin Days lines up to try Nadia Heisler’s cowboy beans recipe. (Brad Best/battlefordsNOW)

The first annual Cochin Days event was held in August 1980. The idea was presented by Rev. Fr. Andrew Mercure whose goals were to offer entertainment to residents and summer visitors and raise funds for community projects or charities. Those are still the goals today with the event also featuring a traditional board parade down Lehman Creek and onto Jackfish Lake, a sandcastle competition, art show, ball tournament and more.

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cjnbnews@pattisonmedia.com