Archstone Announces Winner of "Taste of Archstone" Online Video Cooking Contest

    DENVER, CO, October 06, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Archstone, a leader in apartment investment and operations, announced today that Kellen Moore from the Archstone Gateway community in Anaheim, Calif., is the winner of its popular "Taste of Archstone" online video cooking contest. Entitled "Granola Chicken Tenders with Fresh Peach Salsa and Avocado Slices", Moore's entry featured a delicious adaptation of a traditional family favorite and received the most "likes" during public voting.

The popular "Taste of Archstone" contest received more than one hundred entries from Archstone residents across the nation, ranging from a 1950s-inspired "Swell Enchiladas" video, to truffle sliders grilled with the Seattle Space Needle as a backdrop.

"We congratulate Kellen for a wonderfully entertaining and creative video and a truly delicious recipe," said Donald Davidoff, group vice president and head of marketing for Archstone. "It has been exciting to see the public reaction to the entries from around the country. We are extremely proud of all our Archstone residents who submitted so many great videos showcasing the diverse flavors, cultures and personalities of their communities."

Moore, a Southern California college student, will have a choice of a cash prize or a luxury Napa Valley getaway package valued at approximately $4,500, including round-trip airfare, three nights' accommodation at the Chanric Inn featuring the Hot Air Balloon Package, a cooking class at the Culinary Institute of America, dinner at the Wine Spectator Greystone Restaurant and more. Visit Archstone's blog (www.ArchstoneViews.com) to view all of the entries submitted for the "Taste of Archstone" contest.

Helena Fonseca, a resident of Archstone Van Ness in Washington DC, showcased her recipe for coconut and seafood soup to earn second place, while Julia Igorevna Vaysglus, a resident of Archstone North Point in Boston, finished third with her video featuring her Chili Mango Tuna Tartare.

The "Taste of Archstone" contest began July 21 when participants began uploading their original online cooking videos expressing their personalities and highlighting their cooking skills in preparing dishes with local ingredients to www.youtube.com. The entries had to be uploaded by September 15, could not exceed two minutes in length and needed to include "Taste of Archstone" in the video title and description. Entry was open to all U.S. residents, 21 years of age and over and public voting was held September 16 through 25 to determine the winner.

The online video cooking contest was part of Archstone's fall 2010 resident appreciation and leasing expo, "Taste of Archstone," which ran from September 16 through 19. Visit any Archstone Apartments community nationwide to learn more about leasing incentives and promotions.

Granola Chicken Tenders with Fresh Peach Salsa and Avocado Slices
Recipe by: Kellen Moore

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Granola Chicken:
3/4 cup Corn Flakes Cereal
3/4 cup Corn Bread Mix
3/4 cup Maple Nut Granola (can substitute any kind of granola)
1 Tbs Garlic Powder
1 Tbs Onion Powder
1 Tbs Paprika
1 Tbs Poultry Seasoning
1 Tbs All Purpose Seasoning (21 Seasoning Blend)
1 Tsp Salt
1 Tsp Pepper

Combine dry ingredients in a food processor and chop until granulated.

1.5 lb of Chicken Tenders (pre-cut chicken breast)
2 Eggs, whisked

Dip the chicken tenders into the egg and into the breading. Then place on a baking sheet with parchment paper. Repeat until all the chicken is breaded. Then place in the oven for about 45 minutes or until the breading browns.

Fresh Peach Salsa:
2 Peaches
2 Tomatoes
1 Onion
1 Bell Pepper (Green)
1/4 Jalapeno- add to taste

Dice vegetables and set in a large bowl with fitting lid.

1 handful of cilantro, diced
1 Tbs Lemon Juice
1 Tsp Onion Powder
1 Tsp Garlic Powder
1 Tsp Paprika
1 Tsp Salt
1 Tsp Pepper
Sprinkle all-purpose seasoning to taste

Combine seasonings with diced vegetables and shake until blended. Marinate salsa overnight for better taste.

1 Avocado, sliced
When the chicken is ready, layer it on the plate: chicken, salsa, and finish it off with the avocado slices.

About Archstone
Archstone is a recognized leader in apartment investment and operations. The company's portfolio is concentrated in many of the most desirable neighborhoods in and around Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, New York, Seattle and Boston. Archstone strives to provide great apartments and great service to its customers--backed by service guarantees. As of June 30, 2010, the company owned or had an ownership position in 442 communities located in the United States and Europe, representing 82,104 units, including units under construction. Utilizing this tremendous amount of expertise and institutional knowledge, Archstone now also offers comprehensive advisory services to owners and lenders who want to maximize the value of their assets through Archstone Real Estate Advisory Services.

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