The 2011 Sunday Times Food Awards winners were announced on Thursday 6th October at a stylish cocktail evening that took place at Foodcorp Innovation Centre’s, 7th Floor in Cape Town.
The heated three-day cook-off was celebrated by Mondli Makhanya, Editor-in-Chief of Avusa Media, MC Nataniël and the country’s most well-known foodies.
This year’s winners were:
Wynand van Rooyen of the Mount Nelson Hotel in Cape Town who took the coveted title of 2011 Sunday Times Chef of the Year.
Ashleigh Heeger from The Test Kitchen by Luke Dale Roberts was awarded Young Chef of the Year; Megin Meikle and Darren O’ Donovan from HTA Culinary School of Art in Randburg won the Chef School Challenge; and Delvin Reck from Scotty’s Restaurant and Bar in Plettenberg Bay was honoured for the second year running with the Sunday Times’ Stalwart of the Kitchen title.
All competing chefs followed the same protocol and cooked from a mystery basket of ingredients that was compulsory to use in their dishes. The mystery baskets remained confidential until the cook-off time, and all plates were presented to the judges anonymously. Contestants were given thirty minutes to plan a three-course menu and to set up the kitchen in preparation of their dishes.
Food Awards 2011 Chef of the Year winner, van Rooyen, says, “The competition was definitely tough and I admire my competitors who certainly put up a good challenge. I am also extremely honoured to be chosen as the Sunday Times ‘Chef of the Year’.”
The grand Chef of the Year cook-offs got under way early on Thursday morning 6th October to heat things up. Chef of the year, van Rooyen walked away with the grand prize of R50 000, Michael Cooke from Cape Town was the second runner up and Phil de Villiers from Southern Sun Monte Casino, Johannesburg came in third.
Huge congratulations to all who walked away with top honours!