MASTER Chef SA winner, Roxi Wardman, proved once again that she is the top chef, after she and Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry's (DCCI) CEO, Dumile Cele, won the Chamber's Ultimate Cook-Off last week.
Award winning restaurant, 9th Avenue Bistro, was the perfect venue to host the Ultimate Cook-Off and the two teams battled it out in the kitchen.
It was the women verses the men as DCCI CEO, Dumile Cele, showed off her culinary skills as she teamed up with the Master Chef South Africa winner, Roxi Wardman. The boys' team consisted of Charlie Lakin, head chef at 9th Avenue Bistro and Graham Neilson, chef and owner of the restaurant.
A six-course meal was served to guests who ultimately decided which team cooked the best dishes. All the dishes prepared were cooked from fresh, in season produce. The women plated a sweet butternut brulee starter as opposed to the gents who went for a ginger and lime cured salmon.
It was a tough decision for the audience as both teams were determined and eager to win and claim the title. With the starters done and the guests’ taste buds geared up for an adventure, the battle lines were drawn. The main course consisted of a slow cooked rabbit leg served with langoustine tortellini, sweetcorn, fire roasted pepper and shellfish foam, prepared by chefs Charlie and Graham.
The women served a fillet beef wellington with dripping potatoes, charred leeks, mushrooms and truffle sauce. With the mains served the decision of the winner became more and more difficult. Dumile surprised many in attendance as she is best known for heating things up in the business environment rather than in the kitchen!
The evening was drawing to a close and only one dish remained: the dessert. Roxi is known for her love of baking and the audience looked forward to an explosive ending. The women delivered one final dish with the hope to seal the judge’s votes: passion fruit meringue pie and dark chocolate sorbet.
Both teams were anxious to find out who had won and after the votes were in, the audience had decided the winning team was Dumile and Roxi.
“The Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry would like to thank Gina and Graham from 9th Avenue Bistro for their continued support of the Chamber and wish Roxi all the best for her new business venture, Spoonful Eatery which will be opening within the first two weeks of June 2015,” said Dumile.
