Super chef does Fourways proud
FOURWAYS - Emily Guimareans (10) a St Peter's School pupil came second in the Defy Junior Chef Cook Off competition at Hirsch's in Pineslopes.
The young chef competed against six finalists from all over Gauteng to secure her place among the top three junior chefs in the province.
Pizza with mince is Guimareans’ favourite food to eat, while lemonade is her favourite thing to make.
But don’t let these simple favourites fool you. Guimareans has produced many delectable dishes on her road to becoming a top junior chef.
She became involved in the competition through her local Little Chef’s Cooking Club franchise. Christine Phillips, the founder of the franchise organisation and one of the judges in the competition said their main focus was to get families into the kitchen.
“If children are in the kitchen, then their parents are bound to get involved,” she said. “And from there we aim to bring the whole family back into the kitchen. To show all of us that cooking can be an amazing bonding experience.”
Allan Hirsch, the founder of Hirsch’s home stores, was blown away by what the children have been able to achieve. “Their cooking has been phenomenal; you can see their minds at work [when they cook].”
His company’s national events coordinator Warren Pearce was the true brains behind this competition.
Pearce’s passion is in food, and he hopes to share this passion with children through this initiative. “I want to help the children understand what it means to push boundaries [with food].”
The children are given a mystery basket, and have to come up with recipes and menu ideas on the spot. “One child came up with a rocket infused mayonnaise after being given eggs, oil, rocket and other ingredients,” said Pearce.
Guimareans’ final meal incorporated meat and asparagus in an extremely creative dish which judges said they “wanted to finish,” because it was so good.
First place was taken by Danika van der Walt (13) from Hoerschoel Florida, and third place was taken by 11 year old Dean Barnard of Laerskool Kruinsig (Kempton Park)
This was Hirsch’s first Defy Junior Chef’s cooking competition, and the company hope to make this an annual event for children from all over South Africa.
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