PHOTOS LAURIE SMITH
THE management and staff at local eatery Nam Jai House in Empangeni are still celebrating after winning the third annual DICE (Do I Care Enough?) chef cook-off competition on Friday night.
The Dome at the Umfolozi Casino Resort erupted in applause as Nam Jai Head Chef Louis Congolo (44) took top honours, beating five other top Zululand chefs.
The culinary maestros presented four courses which were judged by the 350 guests present, as well as a panel of highly qualified food judges.
Congolo has been chopping and dicing at the Thai eatery for just four months, having moved here from Durban, where he worked at the Daruma Japanese restaurant for 25 years.
This is the second time the eatery has won the competition, the first being in 2011 with Annemarie as Head Chef.
‘I’m overwhelmed,’ said Congolo. ‘It was an awesome experience for me to participate in such a huge charity event. I’m very proud,’ he said.
Donald Bruins-lich of The Don Group/Porky’s came a close second, while Umfolozi Casino Resort chef Jason de Boer claimed third place.
Nam Jai House owner Annemarie Benecke said, ‘Our aim was not to win, but to have fun and to give back to our community, from our heart.
‘I have received so many phone calls, facebook comments and bbm messages. The number of kind words from the community was overwhelming. ‘
She said the menu was a team effort.
‘The whole staff compliment came together for a meeting and a lot of communication and brainstorming and tasting took place, as it was fine-tuned over the months,’ said Benecke.
Congolo wins a two-night, all expenses paid weekend for two at Thanda Private Game Reserve, while Nam Jai House will take advantage of an advertising campaign won through the Zululand Observer.
All about the people
The successful event, which was sold out months in advance in support of DICE, saw thousands of Rands raised.
This money, said facilitator Linda Zeelie, will be utilised for projects to assist the needy our community.
She said that without the generous sponsorship from key supporters, the event would not have been possible.
‘They are the Umfolozi Casino Resort for the venue for the entire weekend of DICE events, Thanda Private Game Reserve for the first prize and Jikelele Services for the key sponsorship of all of the many ingredients used by the competing chefs to create their menus,’ she said.
