On Thursday, October 15, 175 people took part in the fourth edition of the "From Waste to Delights" event, organized by the Regional Food Bank Cluj one day before World Food Day. Three teams cooked, under the guidance of Chef Laurențiu Dan, dishes made from ingredients rescued from waste: carrots, potatoes, mushrooms, meat, fish, pasta and other staple products.

The winning team, with 59 points, prepared beef stew with polenta, fried eggs, cheese and pickled cucumbers, followed by papanași. Second place prepared meatballs with brined cheese and beans with sausage, and third place, mashed potatoes with crispy chicken and fruit salad. At the end, participants took home the remaining dishes, and the rest of the food was picked up by an association for its beneficiaries.

According to Andreea Bobiș, bank president, the event shows that food surplus can become a resource when companies, organizations and people collaborate. In 2025, the Regional Food Bank Cluj saved and redistributed over 1,900 tons of food, equivalent to over 3.8 million servings, reaching over 37,000 people in Cluj, Alba, Bistrița-Năsăud and Sibiu counties, with a commercial value of over 25.7 million lei.