Nestlé Golden Chef's Hat Competition

Enter the Nestlé Golden Chefs Hat competition today.
View the website for more info.
http://www.saca.co.za/competitions/nestle_golden_chefs_hat_.html

The Chocolate Academy

Barry Callebaut’s Chocolate Academy provides world-class training for chefs of all levels. Callebaut Chocolate Academies are training centres for artisans and professionals who want to improve skills in chocolate.


With 12 academies worldwide, more than 500 craftsmen attend courses every week. The UK Chocolate Academy, based in banbury, Oxfordshire, is run by Beverley Dunkley and Julie Sharp. Purposebuilt and state-of-the-art, its eight individual work stations allow for one-to-one tuition. It is situated adjacent to the Barry Callebaut factory allowing easy access for tours.

“Our courses have been designed to offer practical and theoretical help for the novice chocolatier through to the chocolate artisan, pastry chef,confectioner, baker, caterer and lecturer,” explains Duncan.
“We are extremely proud to have distinguished chefs from both the UK and Europe to help run our courses. All have extensive knowledge and experience in the field of chocolate. We would welcome the opportunity to share with you our expertise to expand and fulfil your chocolate creativity.”

To view the full range of courses and sign up to the Academy newsletter visit www.chocolate-academy

MasterChef SA To Be Filmed At Nederburg

Paarl winery Nederburg has been chosen as the setting for the upcoming M-Net series, MasterChef SA. The kitchen for the show will be housed inside Nederburg’s Johann Graue Auction Hall, the venue where the Nederburg Auction is usually held. The 1000 m2 venue has been revamped to accommodate 20 cooking stations for the 18 week show.

Anne Davis, M-Net’s senior commissioning editor, said, “We wanted to shoot in the Winelands because Cape vineyards are immediately recognisable to local and international viewers as distinctly South African.” Nederburg’s location is also convenient for any off-site challenges in and around the country’s gourmet capital.
Set in 49 hectares of the Paarl valley and boasting original Cape Dutch architecture, Nederburg will certainly make a picturesque setting for the series.
The winery will also provide a customised sommelier course, one-on-one master classes in wine presented by Nederburg’s internationally acclaimed cellar master Razvan Macici, and a year’s supply of Nederburg Winemaster’s Reserve Wines as prizes.
MasterChef South Africa premieres on Tuesday 20 March 2012 at 7.30pm.

Competitions A Plenty For All Chefs

COTY Unilever Chef of the Year

A prestigious Chefs Competition that is run annually, it highlights the best talent that South African Chefs have to offer. Winning chefs throughout different categories win various cash prizes. Enries close 13 July 2012. The competition starts: 31 July in Kwazulu Natal, 1 August in Johannesburg and the 3rd of August in Cape Town.

City and Guilds Skills Challenge

A annual Student competition aimed at all City & Guilds SACA registered training providers. It is a competition that challenges students to the basics – Knife skills, deboning fish, butchery, etc. The winning school receives the floating trophy and R5000 cash. This is at Hostex 2012 from 15 to 17 May. Enquiries: events2@saca.co.za

McCain Tribute to Good Taste

Aimed at young chefs, whom must create innovative vegetarian menus using as many McCain products as possible.  The winning chef receives a cash prize of R7500 and a floating trophy.  This is at Hostex 2012 from 15 to 17 May.  For more information: events2@saca.co.za

Nestlé Golden Chefs Hat

A very prestigious competition which Nestlé runs around the world aimed at apprentice chefs. In which finalists will use Nestlé professional products in a mystery basket. Cash prize is R10 000 to each winning participant and a trip overseas. This is at Hostex 2012 from 15 to 17 May.

Christmas Wishes

The Festive Season is a time of sharing with our loved ones.

As we prepare for this busy and joyous holiday season, it is a time to reflect on the year that has passed. We have, as the Association, experienced much in 2011. For the first time in our history; we have over 6000 active members belonging to the South African Chefs Association. 2011 saw exciting competitions, prestigious events, major fundraising work done, committees established, a new board of directors selected, careers developed and friends made.

We have every confidence that 2012 will take the organisation to undreamed of heights and we look forward to serving the culinary industry of South Africa and developing the diversity that makes us such a unique culinary nation. May I take this opportunity to thank all members, sponsors, patrons and staff for journeying with us during 2011. May you have a very happy holiday season, and a New Year filled with peace, joy, productivity and prosperity.

Culinary Regards
Stephen Billingham
SACA President

Western Cape Takes The Honours.

Last night saw the announcement of the Eat Out Top Ten Restaurants in the country and the Western Cape walked away with the overwhelming majority of awards.

Restaurant of the Year: The Greenhouse, with Chef Peter Tempelhoff

Chef of the Year:  Luke Dale-Roberts of The Test Kitchen

Service Excellence Award: The Roundhouse




The Top 10 Restaurants were announced as follows:

1.  The Greenhouse, with Peter Tempelhoff, Cape Town
2.  The Test Kitchen, with Luke Dale-Roberts, Cape Town
3.  The Tasting Room, with Chef Margot Janse, Franschhoek
4.   The Roundhouse, with Chefs PJ Vadas and Eric Bulpitt, Cape Town
5.   Overture, with Chef Bertus Basson, Stellenbosch
6.   Terroir, with Chef Michael Broughton, Stellenbosch
7.   DW Eleven-13, with Chef Marthinus Ferreira, Johannesburg
8.   Jordan Restaurant, with Chef George Jardine, Stellenbosch
9.   Nobu, with Chef Hideki Maeda, One&Only Cape Town
10.  La Colombe, with Chef Scot Kirton, Cape Town

Masterchef Comes To South Africa

MasterChef South Africa, M-Net’s brand new cooking show, is on a country-wide search for South Africa’s most talented amateur chefs. This popular entertainment show has wowed viewers in over 33 countries, helping amateur cooks to realise their food dreams, and now it’s your opportunity to become South Africa’s king or queen of the kitchen.

The former SA Chefs' Association vice-president and Sunday Times' 2008 Chef of the Year has been appointed culinary producer for the show and has already begun acquiring the ingredients and equipment for the programme, which will start airing on M-Net in March.

"In all my travels the common ingredient is always flavour," said Tanzer. "Some of my favourite dishes are those cooked by my mum - simple, everyday food but always with great flavour."

M-Net and producers Curious Pictures and Lucky Bean Media, who beat 14 other South African production companies to land the programme, have invited amateur cooks in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town to audition in December.

In July, when local viewers were gripped by the Australian version of the show, The Times asked M-Net about a local spin-off. Spokesman Lani Lombard said at the time: "Masterchef has been a phenomenal success globally. In terms of reality show formats, it's the next 'big thing'. When we revamped our schedules in April we decided to introduce an international reality show slot for our DStv viewers at 6.30pm, Mondays to Thursdays. It was the obvious choice to kick off the slot with Masterchef Australia."

This year alone, countries such as Portugal, Sweden, Ukraine, Romania, Peru, Malaysia, Indonesia, Denmark, Croatia, Finland, Ireland and the Philippines have developed local versions of the show.

M-Net said auditions would be held in Johannesburg on December3, in Cape Town on December10 and in Durban on December17. Short-listed candidates will be called for another round of auditions the following day. Said Tanzer: "We've spent the last couple of months researching and developing challenges and tasks from across the broad spectrum of local cuisine . It really does not matter if you grill, poach, braise, roast, steam or bake food - everyone wants his food to taste great."

For Masterchef SA, contestants have to be at least 18 years of age by the beginning of next year and must not have professional cooking experience. Prizes and the judging panel are to be announced.