Let the journey begin! The 2015 ‘Young Chef Award’ winner travels to Europe
Isn’t it inspiring when a deserving individual gets to do something that they wouldn’t have been able to do without the help of people who care?
The ‘Chefs who share – Young Chef Award’ was launched in 2015 to recognise and reward up-and-coming young South African chefs. It proved to be a phenomenal success and awarded top honours to Jamie-Lee Saunders, Commis Chef at Red Indigo Restaurant on the Grootbos Private Nature Reserve in the Western Cape.
Soon Jamie-Lee will be on her way to Europe as part of her amazing prize. With a flight courtesy of Swiss International Air Lines, she is headed for Regensburg in Germany. Here she’ll be based at the Michelin-starred restaurant Storstad and will be mentored by Chef Anton Schmaus, who will share his personal tips for preparing award-winning cuisine. From Germany, Jamie-Lee will travel to France, where Moët & Chandon will host her at its Épernay headquarters in the heart of the Champagne region. It will be a wonderful learning experience for the talented young chef.
The ‘Young Chef Award’ is the latest addition to the annual ‘Chefs who share – the ART of giving’, a black-tie fund-raising gala that raises money for youth development in South Africa. Now going into its fourth year, the event has raised a total of R6,1 million for charity since it was launched in 2013. The gala evening features 7 different gourmet four-course meals, live entertainment and an auction of amazing art and world-class experiences. It brings together 14 top chefs, sommeliers, artists and businesses who believe that by working together they can make a real difference in the lives of others.
Empowering young people and developing skills is of utmost importance in today’s society. Which is why creating an award showcasing and nurturing South Africa’s young culinary talent is an obvious next step when it comes to expanding the ‘Chefs who share’ experience.
Last year’s panel announced seven finalists, who were awarded a spot in the star-studded ‘Chefs who Share’ kitchen. Here they gained a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to cook with their food heroes and present their canapé creations to the guests of this prestigious gala.
The ‘Chefs who share – Young Chef Award’ called for young chefs from around the country to submit an innovative canapé recipe. A panel of top chefs and experienced foodies came together to judge their entries. Also guiding the process were ‘Young Chef Award’ Ambassador Lentswe Bhengu, a well-known local food and TV personality, and International Patron, Reto Mathis, a Swiss chef who captains a number of celebrated restaurants and consults for Swiss International Air Lines. The judges of 2016 are well-known people in the industry namely Tracey Younghusband, Jason Whitehead, Sue-Ann Allen, Tessa Purdon, Carianne Wilkinson and Florian Gast.
Inspiring and showing that hard work pays off – this could only be achieved by all of the companies and people who are behind this incredible vision of sharing and never losing sight of supporting the ones who need a helping hand to reach their full potential.
