The final
stage of the SA Navy Chef of the Year competition took
place at the SA Navy School of Catering. The competition
is an opportunity for SA Navy Chefs to showcase their
cooking skills as well as to encourage innovative styles
of food service and presentation. The competition lasted
from 01 to 04 February.
Chief of the SA handing over the Junior Chef of the Year
Certificate to LS C. Mahlangu
The first
round of the competition took place last year from 31
August to 02 September 2009, where contestants were
judged in a ‘Knowledge of Ingredients’ test as well as a
cook-off. The Five best Junior Ratings and the five
Senior Ratings were selected for the final stage of the
competition. One Junior Rating and a Senior Rating will
each ultimately hold the titles of Senior Chef and
Junior Chef of the Year 2010, respectively.
The Junior
Chef Contestants category was divided into the rank
groups of Seaman to Leading Seaman. The Senior Chef
Contestants category was between the ranks of Petty
Officer to Chief Petty Officer.
The Junior
Chefs showcased their culinary skills on 02 February
2010, while the Senior Chefs had their opportunity to
impress the judges on 04 February 2010. Judges for the
competition came from different highly esteemed
organisations, They were Chef Martin Cobalt (Nestle),
Chef Pieter Kruger (Sea World) and Chef Moira Allison
(Tiger Brands).
The judges
were faced with the difficult task of deciding who would
be the SA Navy Senior and Junior Chefs of the Year. The
SA Navy Chefs did their best, each preparing different
three–course meals to illustrate their individual skills
and innovation. The prize giving function was held at
wardroom JOB MASEGO on the evening Thursday 04 February
2010.
In his
speech the Chief of the South African Navy, Vice Admiral
J. Mudimu said it was a distinct honour for him to be
officiating at the prize giving function for the 2010
South African Navy Chef of the Year competition. He went
on to mention that everyone has been surprised and
spoiled by the excellent food presented by the finalists
over the past few days at the SAS SIMONBERG Catering
School.
The
competition is the initiative of the South African
National Defence Force and the winners will take part in
the SANDF Chefs competition in August 2010 and the
winners will proceed to represent South Africa and the
SA Defence force overseas at the International Chefs
Olympics in 2012 in Germany.
The
contestants were waiting in eager expectation to hear
who would be the SA Navy Junior and Senior Chef of the
Year for 2010. The following winners were eventually
announced.
