With spring smoothly sneaking in and braai season upon us, Nelson Mandela Bay chef Samkelo Mthiyane is cooking up a treat for local foodies who enjoy a lekker braai.
Mthiyane has devised a competition – loosely modelled on hit TV show Ultimate Braai Master – where chefs and amateur cooks will battle it out to win the title of Braai Master.
Mthiyane’s competition – to be hosted at Champions Sports Bar in Cape Road – will see six teams made up of one professional chef, a disc jockey, an “influencer” and a foodie, compete against each other.
“Of the six chefs, each must have one team member from the DJs, foodies and influencers categories,” Mthiyane said.
The leading chefs include one from Premier Hotels, and Capsicum Culinary Studio lecturers Donovan Miller and Nick Breetzke.
Three other chefs are currently being signed up for the competition.
Competing “influencers” are events promoter Lebo Gora, Iinkumbuzo Photography founder Luvuyo Ngxiki, Algoa FM’s KayC and Vinny, KQ FM’s Luyanda and Nkqubela FM’s Mmeli.
Meanwhile, in the disc jockey’s category are Muzero, Malume, Jesse, DJ Breakfast, Marrest and N Beats.
The competition will be judged by Mthiyane and fellow professional chefs Asada Restaurant owner Mark Oosthuizen, Two Olives’ Jonathan Gunston, Makoy Food Truck owner Dewald Hurter and Muse Restaurant’s Allan Bezuidenhout.
“When we came up with this we wanted something fresh instead of the same events done over and over.
“So, we thought of this idea [which is] also suitable for team building purposes,” Mthiyane said.
The braai series will be held at Champions Sports Bar in Cape Road, where Mthiyane’s private Chef Sam brand currently operates.
With the Braai Master Series: The Bay’s Ultimate Braai Challenge, Mthiyane hopes to contribute to the Port Elizabeth tourism industry by drawing attention to the culinary skills that the city’s establishments boast.
The first instalment of the series will be on Saturday September 29, with the second on October 6 and the finale of the first season on October 13.
Contestants’ creativity, braaiing and time management will be tested through various challenges in which they will be tasked with preparing three courses on the braai.
“In one of the challenges, they will be asked to make dessert on a braai stand,” Mthiyane said.
Because the first instalment of the series coincides with the Springboks against Australia Test in the Bay, Mthiyane said there were ticket combos that covered a drink, braai package, transport to and from the rugby match and a general ticket for the game, at a cost of R250.
The grand prize will be awarded to the winning team on the day of the finale.
Access to the braai challenge is free for spectators.