The Department of Food and Nutrition, in collaboration with the school engagement project of the Durban University of Technology (DUT), hosted a successful super chefs competition for high school learners at the Steve Biko campus on Saturday, 5 October 2024.

The Super Chefs competition was attended by 24 finalists who had made it through to the finals as well as teachers, parents, and guardians who came to support their children. They were very grateful for the opportunity that DUT provided.

The aim of the competition was to encourage learners to use indigenous and healthy ingredients in cooking to enhance the nutritional quality of meals while celebrating the rich heritage of South African cuisine. Additionally, it showcased the facilities within the Department of Food and Nutrition.

The event began with a briefing where learners were taught the rules of the kitchen. They were provided with kitchen sets (including equipment, aprons and chef hats) and given 30 minutes to familiarise themselves with the ingredients in their mystery baskets before creating their menus. The judges allotted three hours for the learners to plan, prepare and present a three-course meal.

The learners prepared their meals with passion, presenting two plates, one for the judges and the other for their teachers and parents. The food was impressive and looked delicious. The learners truly outdid themselves with their dishes.

Dr Heleen Grobbelaar from the Department of Consumer Sciences Food and Nutrition congratulated every participant and thanked everyone for their presence. “We have seen a lot of creativity in your dishes, and I am very impressed,” she remarked. She also expressed her gratitude to the teachers for their dedication.

All 24 finalists in the Super Chefs competition were awarded certificates to encourage their continued cooking endeavours. Each finalist also received the gift of a kitchen utensil set, apron and cap. After the judges’ deliberation, the top three winning pairs were announced too much applause and all received prizes.

Andiswa Mthethwa and Mvelwenhle Makhona, grade 12 learners from Pinetown Girls High School, shared their experiences as first-prize winners. “It was a great experience for us and our fellow classmates from other schools. We never thought we could win first prize, but our hard work and dedication brought us here. We are grateful for the opportunity that DUT has given us; we learned a lot,” they explained. They noted that the competition was challenging, but they were proud of their achievement.

Second prize was awarded to Montseng Lepheane and Unami Mkhize, also grade 12 learners from Pinetown Girls High School. They expressed their excitement about their achievement and conveyed their gratitude to DUT. “We feel very happy and shocked at the same time. We are grateful for the opportunity from DUT; this was not just a competition but also a valuable lesson, and we learned so much,” they shared.

Akhona Dlamini and Zinhle Mngwengwe, grade 12 learners from Durban Girls Secondary School, secured the third prize and were thrilled with their accomplishment. “We are very excited about the competition. We benefited a lot, and we are happy to have made it to third place,” they stated.

The competition was a success, with teachers and parents showing tremendous support for their children. One teacher from Durban Girls Secondary School, Mrs Pillay, expressed her appreciation: “I am very proud of my girls; they outdid themselves. their work is amazing. I loved all the food they made. Thank you to DUT for this great opportunity.”

Speaking on behalf of the parents, Lindokuhle Ntuli shared his thoughts on the event: “I had a great experience supporting our children in what they love most which is cooking. The Super Chefs competition was very informative for our children because they not only participated but also learned valuable lessons.”

Bérénice de la Croix, DUT School Engagement Project manager, extended her appreciation to all the attendees and participants. She shared her excitement and thanked everyone for giving up their Saturday to attend the Super Chefs competition.

The DUT School Engagement project sincerely appreciates their partners and funders that made this event possible: DUT Food and Nutrition, DUT Corporate Affairs, Victor Daitz Foundation, Iqraa Trust and Albert Wessels Trust.

Pictured: Dr Heleen Grobbelaar from the Department of Consumer Sciences Food and Nutrition, together with all the winners of the Super Chefs competition.

Photography: Mnqobi Ngobese

Sinamile Sithole