Record number of entries and new stalwart of the kitchen award - a recipe for success at the 2010 Sunday Times Food Awards
Thursday, 6 October 2010
The 2010 Sunday Times Food Awards winners were announced on Wednesday, October 7, following a thrilling two-day cook off at the South African Chefs Association’s Southern Sun Centre for Culinary Excellence, in Auckland Park Johannesburg. The Food Awards, in association with Foodcorp, are made up of four competitions, all of which received a record number of entries this year. Jodi-Ann Pearton of the Food Design Agency now holds the coveted title of 2010 Sunday Times Chef of the Year, Julia Hattingh from The Restaurant at The Waterkloof triumphed as the Young Chef of the Year, Silwood School of Cookery won the Chef School Challenge and Lucas Ntsele from the Michelangelo Hotel in Sandton was honoured to be the first recipient of the Sunday Times Stalwart of the Kitchen Award.
“We are very happy with our record number of entries this year as well as the new and improved entry mechanics which levelled the playing field amongst all contestants. Unlike last year, all competing chefs cooked from a mystery basket that was confidential until the morning of each cook-off and all food was presented to the judges anonymously,” explains Jacqui Gunn Sunday Times Food Awards project manager.
Sunday Times and Foodcorp were thrilled to introduce the new Stalwart of the Kitchen category this year. The competition was introduced to recognise the large group of chefs in South Africa over the age of 35 who may have no formal qualification, yet are found working very hard in kitchens all over the country.
“Foodcorp’s ongoing association with the Sunday Times Food Awards is our opportunity to promote talent and reward innovation in the food industry, and we are delighted to see how this competition continues to grow with each year. The new Stalwart of the Kitchen category is particularly exciting as it recognises the individuals that make up the backbone of this industry and often go unnoticed,” says Julliette Morrison, Foodcorp’s Group Marketing Director.
On Tuesday, October 5, six finalist school teams competed in the Chef School Challenge cook offs. The teams were Prue Leith’s Chefs Academy from Pretoria, 1000 Hills Chefs School from Kwa-Zulu Natal, two teams from Silwood School of Cookery in Cape Town, and two teams from The International Hotel School in Sandton, Johannesburg.
All teams participating in the Chef School Challenge were given a mystery basket of ingredients that were compulsory to use in their three-course menu. The basket was made up of green asparagus, a rack of lamb, lamb kidney, strawberries and rhubarb. Contestants were also able to choose from a community pantry of foodstuffs to include in their dishes. They were given one hour to plan their menus before cooking commenced.
Silwood School of Cookery in Cape Town cemented their outstanding reputation in the industry by taking the title for the third year in a row. Sara Lohmaier and Lauren Bolton received R5 000 each plus a Weber Smokey Joe valued at R749 and R5 000 was also awarded to the school.
Subsequently the Young Chef of the Year finalists took to the kitchen that afternoon. The same protocol applied to the Young Chef of the Year contestants with the exception a different mystery basket. Their basket comprised of prawns, a whole chicken, white peaches and traditional South Africa line fish, yellowtail.
This year’s Young Chef finalists all reigned from Cape Town – winner Julia Hattingh was up against 2009 Young Chef of the Year – Leon Osch Jones of The Table Bay Hotel, Melyssa La Vita – also from The Table Bay, Robyn Capendale from the Camps Bay Retreat, Jazper Saunders of Silwood Kitchens and Andre Steyn of The Vineyard in Cape Town.
Hattingh’s pan fried yellowtail with ginger poached prawn and carrot puree pushed her into first place, with Robyn Capendale coming second and Jazper Saunders, third.
The winner of the Sunday Times Young Chef of the Year 2010 received R20 000 and a Weber Q220 valued at R4 999. Second place received R5 000 and third place received R2 000.
The cook-offs were back in full swing on Wednesday, October 6, with the the Stalwart of the Kitchen kicking off in the early morning. The Stalwart mystery basket of ingredients comprised of springbok loin, red snapper, four prawns and lime.
The finalists who competed against Lucas Ntsele were Susan Maxwell of Maxwell’s Restaurant in Grahamstown and Emily Mazwi, Fredrick Tshikuvhe, Jackson Xulu and Victoria Mgaga, all from the Michelangelo Hotel in Sandton.
The Stalwart contestants were tasked to do only a starter and a main as they have not been typically trained as pastry chefs. “These chefs have the experience and the training but no ‘paper’ to back them up. This can get the better of them when needing the confidence to enter competitions such as these, hence why the category has been introduced. Hopefully this will encourage more entrants for next year,” adds Arnold Tanzer, kitchen judge for the Sunday Times Food Awards.
The winner of the Sunday Times Stalwart of the Kitchen 2010 competition received R10 000 plus a Weber Q220 valued at R4 999 and each finalist received R 1 000.
Finally the Chef of the Year cook-offs got under way at 12h30. This mystery basket was filled with two pigeons, one side of sea bream, fennel bulb and a guava.
Finalist from last year and this year’s winner, Jodi-Ann Pearton, was up against Coenraad Spaumer of Boston Kitchen and Deli in Pretoria, Michael Cooke from The Cellars-Hohenort in Cape Town, Roberto de Carvalho from the Twelve Apostles in Cape Town and Scott Rattray from Scotty’s Restaurant and Bar in Plett. Sixth finalist, Roberto Pucciatti from Punto Deli Bakers had to pull-out of the competition as his wife went into labour on the day of the cook-off.
Second place was awarded to Scott Rattray and third place to Michael Cooke.
The winner of the Sunday Times Chef of the Year 2010 received R50 000 and a Weber Q300 valued at R5 999. Second prize received R15 000 and third prize was R5 000.
The two-day cook-off culminated in a stylish cocktail evening held at The Waterford restaurant at the School of Tourism and Hospitality in Johannesburg. MC John Vlismas and the delicious snacks kept all guests happy and comfortable whilst the winners celebrated their victories.
Issued by: Amy Mabin
Ogilvy PR Cape
Contact: 021 467 1378 / 082 924 5222
On behalf of: Avusa
Contact: Jacqui Gunn (Avusa: Business Manager, Reader Value)
011 280 3572/ 082 337 9595
|
