RCL Foods, in collaboration with the South African Chefs Association (SA Chefs) is thrilled to announce that entries for the eagerly anticipated RCL Foods Young Chefs and Bakers Challenge 2023 have opened.
The challenge, combining both the Young Chef and Young Baker categories, presents a unique platform for full-time culinary students in South Africa to demonstrate their talent.
The integrated competition encourages aspiring chefs and bakers to showcase their skills in both fields, competing in teams of two and entering their creative recipes using RCL Foods, Rainbow, Siqalo Foods, and LiveKindly products, among others. Successful participants will then compete in nail-biting stages including semi-finals and a grand national final.
Brad Kavanagh, RCL Foods’ head chef, said by creating a platform for young chefs and bakers to showcase their talent, they are fostering culinary expertise in their industry and establishing a positive, sustainable impact.
“The competition is open to legal residents of South Africa, aged between 18 and 27 years, who are enrolled with a professional institution or in a service (traineeship) programme focusing on Culinary Arts or a Professional Cookery programme. Entrants chosen for the semi-finals, which take place in KZN, Gauteng, and Cape Town on September 14, will have the opportunity to exhibit their culinary prowess in a more extensive format. Teams will be tasked with crafting a bread course, a restaurant main course, and a dessert, showcasing the full spectrum of their cooking and baking skills,” said Kavanagh, adding that the competition culminates in an exhilarating finale where the participants’ culinary talents will truly shine on October 12, as the best three teams from each regional cluster compete based on criteria such as the correct use of pre-determined ingredients, creativity, presentation, innovation, and technical correctness.
Kavanagh said an esteemed panel of judges from SA Chefs will adjudicate the entries.
Chef Lesley Jacobs, Competitions Director of SA Chefs said: “Generous cash prizes await the winning teams, with R30,000 for first place, R20,000 for second, and R15,000 for third place, split equally between the team participants. The competition also offers a tremendous opportunity for the participants to make a name in the industry and pave the way for a successful culinary career.”
The competition closes at midnight on July 31. For further details about the competition rules, prizes, and to download entry forms, please visit the RCL Foods website.
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