Hirsch’s Meadowdale hosted the annual Defy Hirch’s Junior Super Chef competition on Thursday.
“This is the second year we are hosting the Junior Super Chef,” said the national events and special projects manager at Hirsch’s, Warren Pearce.
“This event is aimed at getting children to experiment with food, develop their skills and getting them in the kitchen and teaching them to cook.
“If there is one skill that you can have and always make money out of, it is making food because people always have to eat.”
Pearce, who is also the creator of the competition, said the event is also aimed at teaching children about appliances.
“Technology is growing so rapidly that we want to teach our children about the new technology that is on offer to them, like the induction pots that are new to the market and are energy saving appliances,” he said.
“This is important, especially now that we have been experiencing load shedding.”
The children were given one hour to cook.
“There are mystery baskets at each table and the children are allowed one hour to cook two meals,” explained Pearce.
“Thereafter they present their dishes to the judges who score the dishes and choose a winner.”
The winner will then progress to the finals that will be held at Hirsch’s Fourways.
“We have six branches in Johannesburg and at each branch there is a competition which is the regional level,” said Pearce.
“One winner from each branch will then go head-to-head at the finals.
“The finals will be held on June 17.
“Another main objective is for children to come and have fun because they are all winners just by being a part of the competition.”
Only children between the ages of eight and 13 were allowed to enter with Meadowdale’s branch having nine participants.
At the end of it all, Ethan Olivier (8), from Pretoria, was named the winner of the Meadowdale branch after impressing the judges with his crunchy chicken nuggets and pancakes.
“I am happy to have won, I love cooking,” said Ethan.
“He has always loved cooking, he always chooses his own ingredients when we go shopping and cooks at home,” said Ethan’s mother, Erika Olivier.
