The winners in the RCL FOODS Young Chef and the inaugural Young Baker competitions were announced on 13 October following gruelling finals that tested a wide range of their cheffing and baking skills at the RCL FOODS kitchens in Durban, with each taking home their share of the total R110 000 cash prize.

The top team of two in the RCL FOODS Young Chefs challenge are Nicole Bowes and Matthew Maree from Silwood School of Cookery in Western Cape, who achieved over 90% in the finals and won R15 000 each. Chef Brad Kavanagh, Head Chef of RCL FOODS, says this was the first time in many years that a score above 90% was achieved. “For some years we have seen competitors do well, but not quite making it to the 90% gold standard. Well done to the winners!”

The first-ever RCL FOODS Young Baker winner is Simthandile Nomandla from FBI Chef School & Patisserie Academy in Gauteng, who took home the top prize of R20 000, against the odds. Chef Brad explains: “Simthandile missed her flight from Joburg that morning, but despite her late start, her passion and determination saw her not only catch up but win the top RCL FOODS Young Bakers Challenge prize. We’re very proud of her excellent baking skills, as well as her problem-solving ability in the face of an extremely stressful situation.” Simthandile is a resident of Honingklip in Krugersdorp.

The Young Chef silver winners were Matthew Van Heerden and Shanuel Zimba from 1000 Hills Chef School in KZN who each won R10 000, and the bronze winners were Kelly Fletcher and Kara Venter from Silwood School of Cookery in Western Cape, who won R7 500 each.

Second place in the RCL FOODS Young Baker Challenge went to Ameera Gani from Chefs Training & Innovation Academy in Centurion, Gauteng, and third place to Lynette Spykerman from 1000 Hills Chefs School in KZN, winning R15 000 and R10 000 respectively.

The Young Chefs ‘Best Hygiene’ trophy for clean work, sponsored by Geochem, went to Leandre Mari Engelbrecht and Tebatso Antoinette Mamabolo from Guvon Academy in Gauteng. The Young Baker ‘Best Bread’ award, sponsored by Anchor Yeast, went to Ameera Gani, who won a Samsung Galaxy Tab A8.

The SA Chefs and SA Bakers associations ran the competition, with Chef Adrian Vigus Brown, SA Chefs’ Competition Director, as the overall head judge.

At the prize-giving ceremony at Coastlands Umhlanga Hotel & Convention Centre, Chef Adrian congratulated all the competitors for putting themselves on the culinary map and assured them they were all winners. He encouraged them to make the competition experience a worthwhile investment in their careers. “Take home your learnings and aim to improve consistently on what you achieved in these competitions.”

Chef Brad thanked all the contributors to the competitions, and particularly the SA Chefs-approved expert judges, for going the extra mile to ensure the participants were given feedback on their performance, in line with RCL FOODS’ commitment to nurturing, upskilling and investing in young chefs and bakers. “Every entrant was scored professionally throughout the stages of the competitions, and the judges’ evaluations were made available to the entrants to enable them to assess their performance and boost their skills to be the best chefs and bakers they can be.”

For the finals, Young Chef competitors submitted recipes for a restaurant main course and an innovation dessert course before the competition, which they then cooked in the finals, with a mystery basket starter, and Young  Baker competitors submitted recipes for two types of breads and two types of baked confectionary, which they baked, along with a mystery basket element of six cupcakes and a flavoured buttercream.

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About RCL FOODS

RCL FOODS is a leading South African food manufacturer employing over 21 000 people, producing a wide range of branded and private label food products which we distribute through our own route-to-market supply chain specialist, Vector.

Our strategy is founded on a clear sense of who we are and where we are going as a business. We aim to create the future Our Way – driven by Our Passion and Our Ambition and guided by Our Values.

• RCL FOODS Young Baker Challenge 2nd place winner: Ameera Gani from Chefs Training & Innovation Academy in Centurion, Gauteng with Dave Collier, founding president of SA Bakers Association
• RCL FOODS Young Baker Competition Winner: Simthandile Nomandla from FBI Chef School & Patisserie Academy with Dave Collier (founding chairman of SA Bakers Association)

The winners in the inaugural RCL FOODS Young Baker competition: From left are Chef Bradley Kavanagh (Head Chef, RCL FOODS), Lynette Spykerman from 1000 Hills Chefs School in KZN (third place), Simthandile Nomandla from FBI Chef School & Patisserie Academy (first place), Ameera Gani from Chefs Training & Innovation Academy in Centurion, Gauteng (2nd place), James Khoza (President, SA Chefs Association), Stewart Jones (customer marketing executive, RCL FOODS) and Dave Collier (founding chairman of SA Bakers Association)

• RCL FOODS Young Bakers 3rd place winner: Lynette Spykerman (1000 Hills Chefs School in KZN) with Brad Kavanagh (Head Chef, RCL FOODS) and Dave Collier (founding president of SA Bakers Association)
• RCL FOODS Young Chef Competition Winners: Nicole Bowes and Matthew Maree from Silwood School of Cookery with Mandisa Nhliziyo (RCL FOODS management trainee)
• RCL FOODS Young Chef Competition Winners: Nicole Bowes and Matthew Maree from Silwood School of Cookery with Rishen Ramusen (assistant brand manager, RCL FOODS)
• RCL FOODS Young Chef Competition Winners: Nicole Bowes and Matthew Maree from Silwood School of Cookery with Rishen Ramusen (assistant brand manager, RCL FOODS) and Fortunate Khumalo (category assistant RCL FOODS)
• RCL FOODS Young Chef Competition Winners: James Khoza (President of SA Chefs Association), Nicole Bowes and Matthew Maree from Silwood School of Cookery, Stewart Jones (customer marketing executive, RCL FOODS) and Brad Kavanagh (Head Chefs, RCL FOODS)
• RCL FOODS Young Bakers Winner: Simthandile Nomandla from FBI Chef School & Patisserie Academy with Chef Brad Kavanagh (Head Chef, RCL Foods) and Rishen Ramsuran (assistant brand manager, RCL FOODS)
• RCL FOODS Young Chef 2nd place winners: Matthew Van Heerden and Shanuel Zimba from 1000 Hills Chef School in KZN with Chef James Khoza (president of SA Chefs Association)