The women’s group of the Port Shepstone & District Andhra Sabha celebrated Women’s Day in fine culinary style, with traditional Indian cuisine, when they hosted a ‘Cook Off’ competition’ at the iconic Andhra hall.
Convenor Pravashnie Rajagopal directed the competition and programme, spelling out the rules while entertaining spectators and guests with her humorous anecdotes as the cooking took place, the aroma of hot Indian spices tantalising the taste buds.
The Spicy White Chefs and Spicy Red Chefs, made up of eight competitors, competed for top honours as they had to prepare three-course meals in the presence of spectators and judges.
The main course of spicy curries, fresh chicken culls and mutton were prepared on outside fires using tripod stands.
Both teams offered a variety of sumptuous traditional meals, and spectators and judges alike were spoilt for choice.
Over and above the main dish, Spicy Red Chefs produced dried braised venison, free range lamb trotters gravied with sugar beans, as well as Hydrabadi seekh kebabs, while Spicy White Chefs wooed the judges with South Indian fried chicken, pan seared masala fish and crispy chill bites.
The panel of judges, headed by Mona Harichand, had a difficult choice separating the teams and it appeared that there would be a tie, but in the end the judges awarded top position to Spicy White Chefs.
Finally, it was the turn of spectators, guests, family and friends who had supported the teams to enjoy all the cooked meals, freely on offer, all in the name of commemorating Women’s Day in style.
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