Top catering schools from around KZN are busy choosing finalists for the exciting inaugural Hirsch’s Head Chef competition that is due to take place in the Celebrity Kitchen at the East Coast Radio House and Garden Show on July 7. Schools taking part include the International Hotel School, the 1000 Hills Chef School, Capsicum Culinary Studio and Fusion Cooking School. The Hirsch’s Group are the main sponsors of the competition.
Co-ordinators from Hirsch’s and judges for the competition met recently to discuss the finer points of this fun cook off to find Hirsch’s Head Chef. One of the judges, The ICC’s Executive Sous Chef, Desmond Davies said that this was exactly the type of competition that people in the culinary industry enjoyed taking part in. “We need to bring in more of these fun elements, like cooking from a mystery box and working in an unconventional environment.” He said. Fellow judge, well known KZN caterer and Masterchef Finalist, Joani Mitchel who hosted the meeting in her home in La Lucia, said that she loved the fact that Hirsch’s had come on board to put together and sponsor a competition that would showcase the talents of some of the top junior chefs in the province.
The schools have all been sent a list of the rules for the competition which starts at 5.00 p.m. on the 7th July and ends, with prize giving at 7.00 p.m. Each school will be fielding their top senior student and a first year (as their assistant) and they will cook two courses from a mystery box – with an hour of preparation and cooking and ten minutes to plate up (five minutes for each dish).
Watch this space!