Heat in the kitchen as top chefs dice for DICE
The fourth annual DICE cook-off raised a substantial amount for charity.
Six of Zululand’s top chefs battled it out for the coveted Zululand Chef of the Year title at Umfolozi Casino Resort at the fourth annual Zululand Observer Do I Care Enough? (DICE) fund-raiser.
Nam Jai House walked away as the proud winners of the title for the second consecutive year.
Taking second place was Porky’s Richards Bay and East Coast Curries in Empangeni was awarded third position.
The Nam Jai House team kicked off with a mouth-watering starter dubbed ‘Japanese Garden’, a prawn toast topped with garlic, spring onion, philadelphia and crumbed panko.
It also included a sweet chilli mousse, drizzled with a reduction sauce made from organic hibiscus flowers garnished with micro greens and edible flowers.
It was topped off with a shrimp poached in lemon grass, lime leaves and lemon zest. The winning starter was not only tasty. but beautifully presented.
Nam Jai House followed this with a main of ‘Fowl Play’ consisting of a summer roll filled with all kinds of delicious ingredients such as coconut egg fried rice, crumbed chicken fillet strips and a mix of fresh vegetables and fruit.
The main was finished off with an aioli made with coconut and green curry paste which left food lovers licking their fingers.
Spicing up the kitchen on the night, the competitive culinary maestros chopped, cubed and diced a substantial amount for charity.
Durban-based The Fusion Cooking School Principal, Chef Patron and guest judge of the night, Shaun Smith, prepared a delectable dessert which many described as ‘angels dancing on one’s tongue’.
While the crowd waited on the judges to tally the votes, dancers from the Dance Academy entertained the audience with fun routines.
Funds raised at the cook-off will be donated to DICE, which will be used for ‘Christmas Cheer’ parcels providing food to underprivileged families and gifts to children.
To see more photos from the DICE chef cook-off click HERE
