COOKING COMPETITION

From the SAS Mendi (at sea)

Whilst at sea for extended periods, members of the ship's company always come up with ideas as to make the trip as interesting as possible. This time it was a cooking competition between the different messes. Each mess had to prepare a three-course meal consisting of a main meal, salad and dessert.

The Junior Ratings were the first to cook for the ship's company. Their menu catered for 'different cultural preferences' and looked as follows:

Chicken à la Mendi
Rice gone Nuts Or Pap and Chakalaka 
Mielies

Three Bean Salad

Fresh Fruit

AB Tshabalala and others preparing the meat.

LS van den Heever washing the chicken with LS Maduma giving instructions.

The rest of the ship's company was impressed with the Junior Ratings' effort. PO Mpho Rakoma even suggested that the Junior Ratings who prepared the meal must apply to change their musterings to 'combat chefs'.

The Senior Ratings Mess was the second team to show their culinary skills. Their menu consisted of the following:

Chicken Curry
Roti or Yellow Rice
Mixed Veggies

Samble Salad

Trifle Desert

Although it was a great effort, the overall feeling was that it was not as good as Junior Ratings' menu.

PO Gopalkista, CPO Smit and PO Da Silva baking the Rotis.

CPO Naidoo and PO Monyai washing dishes.

The Warrant Officers then took to the galley (ship's kitchen) to prove that they could show the younger generation a thing or two. Their menu was as follows:

Chicken Stir Fry with Rice

Bread and Butter Pudding with Custard

Once again a good effort, but not good enough to beat the Junior Ratings.

The Team: WO2 Sixishe, Mr White, WO1 Nel, WO1 Johnstone, WO1 Chetty and WO1 Rothman.

Discussing the bread and butter pudding.

The Wardroom (Officers' Mess) was the last mess to take part in the cooking competition and their menu was as follows:

Beef Stroganoff
Mixed Rice
Sweet Carrots Julienne

Salad Ceaser

Trifle

Although a great effort went into the preparation of the meal, it was once again not good enough to beat the Junior Ratings. (It must be said that the trifle was a definite winner in the pudding stakes!)

Cpln Diniso, Lt Hokoma and Lt Cdr Mkhonto cleaning carrots.

Cdr Schutte, Lt Col Kleinhans and Lt Cdr Van Rooyen steaming up the beef.

Although not a mess, the 'German Team' also wanted a change to show their skills as chefs. Their menu looked as follows:

Bruchetta (bread, cheese, tomatoes, butter, garlic)

Pizza (dough, onions, tuna, ham, salami, cheese, tomato extract, pineapple, mushrooms)

Vanilla Ice Cream with Mixed Fruits

The German Team certainly presented an interesting menu and the food was excellent, but the winner will only be anounced on Thursday 16 September.

WO Balzus preparing the dough.

Final preparations for the pizza.

GENERAL INFORMATION (AS ON 14 SEPTEMBER)

The total distance from Kiel to Simon's Town: 5 186 nm
Distance covered to date: 3 656 nm
Remaining distance: 1 530 nm
Average depth of the water: 5 500 m
Sea state: 2
Nearest land abeam: Island of St Helena (starboard - 410nm)
Weather: cloudy
Wind: south-east, 23 knots