Little chefs took to flaming stoves to battle it out at the finals of the Hirsch’s and Defy’s Junior Superchef Competition recently, with Michelle Jones crowned this year’s junior chef.
The competition was aimed at budding chefs between the ages of eight and 13.
The finalists were from the six Hirsch’s stores in Gauteng including Boksburg, Centurion, Fourways, Meadowdale, Silverlakes and Strubens Valley.
With prizes to the value of R40 000 up for grabs, the contestants pulled out all the stops to produce a dish which was both creative and tasty from the mystery box of ingredients provided.
On hand to assist and guide the junior chefs were guest judges, Masterchef winner Deena Naidoo, Allan Hirsch and Sylvester Nair. They looked for planning, execution, presentation, taste and initiative when scoring the contestants. After much deliberation, the judges reached a consensus and the winners of the competition were announced.
The judges complimented the junior chefs, saying they showed culinary skills and creativity. In the mystery basket were ingredients such as beef fillet, prawns, puff pastry, eggs, potatoes, red pepper, tomatoes, carrots, onion, a variety of spices and berries.
In first place was 12-year-old Jones from Centurion, followed by 11-year-old Sasha-Lee Peter from Fourways and in third place was eight-year-old Maxine Nicholls from Strubens Valley. Jones cooked prawns in puff pastry, with potato mash and cream sauce.
Zwilling, Snappy Chef and Green Pan were the sponsors of the event.
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