Menu Match-Up, a cooking competition show for individuals with sight loss, coming to AMI-tv

Accessible Media Inc. (AMI) announced today that Menu Match-Up, a new cooking competition show that pairs blind and partially sighted home cooks with professional chefs, will premiere on October 24.

Produced by Scott Brothers Entertainment in partnership with AMI and the CNIB, Menu Match-Up has two teams square off in an effort to create two amazing dishes, one appetizer and one entrée, from seven mystery ingredients in just one hour. The dishes are then judged by a panel of three culinary professionals and a winner is selected based on creativity, use of the mystery ingredients, execution, and of course – taste!

“Menu Match-Up is perfectly indicative of AMI’s mission to entertain, inform and empower Canadians living with sight loss,” says John Melville, Vice-President of Programming and Production. “It’s a unique, upbeat series that features a wide variety of energetic characters from both the blind and partially sighted community and the culinary world.”

As they race against the clock the home cooks and professional chefs will need to rely on each other and utilize one another’s skills if they hope to impress the judges and take home the prize. Along the way, the home cooks will share what inspired their love of cooking as well as accessibility tips and tricks that they find helpful in the kitchen.

“We’re delighted to be working with AMI and the CNIB on Menu Match-Up,” says Josie Crimi, Executive Vice-President of Development and Production for SB Entertainment. “Food has the power to unite people of all abilities and it’s an honour to highlight the culinary passion within the blind and partially sighted community.”

Hosted by Toronto chef Matt Basile, Menu Match-Up features integrated described video – descriptions from the cast incorporated with natural sounds during the production stage – and is fully accessible for the blind and partially sighted audience.

Menu Match-Up premieres Tuesday, October 24 at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT on AMI-tv. Full episodes will be available online at ami.ca after the initial broadcast. Check your local listings for the AMI-tv channel in your area.