Future Top Chefs & Zaba at the Ball & Auditions for The Lion King

Future top chefs compete in brandy infusions competition

(Winners - Bernita Oosthuizen, Nick Holdcroft (Distell)  and Zandria De Nobrega) 

Future cheffing talent was nurtured by The South African Chefs Association Young Chefs Club of KwaZulu-Natal, when chefs under the age of 25 competed to win a Brandy Infusions competition at the Durban Country Club on June 26.

Ten finalist teams of two, from The Oyster Box, Southern Sun Elangeni-Maharani, the Durban International Convention Centre (ICC),Capsicum Culinary Studio, The International Hotel School, Durban University of Technology and The Fusion Cooking School, had to prepare two dishes – a starter and a dessert – both containing potstill brandy. They had 10 minutes to prepare and present each course, including clean down of the kitchen. The dish had to be paired with a brandy, either neat or with a mixer, with teams explaining why a specific brandy was chosen.

Fusion Cooking School’s Zandria De Nobrega and Bernita Oosthuizen claimed top position with their starter of Moroccan lamb-style tortellini, basil brandy crème with smoked tomato emulsion and apricot chutney, paired with Oude Meester Demant and their dessert of mocha and hazelnut-layered panna cotta, hazelnut brandy praline, plum macaroon and a brandy plum custard, chocolate ganache and a plum reduction, paired with a Richelieu 10-year-old. Second place went to Capsicum Culinary Studio Durban’s Edward Lloyd and Tyann Robert and third position to The Oyster Box Hotel’s Brenden Schwenn and Tanya Padayachee. De Nobrega and Oosthuizen received a trip to the Van Ryn’s Distillery in Stellenbosch and the Klipdrift Distillert in Roberton, a brandy hamper and a Cape Culinary Experience in the kitchen of a  top South African chef in Cape Town.

Distell sponsored the competition, with premium potstill brandies including Klipdrift Gold, Oude Meester Demant, Richelieu 10 year-old, Collisons White Gold and Van Ryn's 12 year-old.

The Young Chefs Club (YCC) is a sub-committee of The South African Chefs Association (SACA) committee and is aimed at all those chefs aged 25 years old or younger. The judging panel consisted of SACA regional chairman Chef Gunther Beissel, Chef Larry Lynch (Karoo Butchery), Chef Belinda Barlow (SPAR fresh studio), and Nick Holdcroft (Distell Brandy Ambassador). The kitchen judge was Chef Fatima Stanley.

“The competition was a stunning success with all the teams being on time - well within their allocated time per course,” said event organiser and Fusion Cooking School Executive Chef Shaun Smith said. Head judge Gunther Beissel commented on the "extremely high standard of all the plates", and all the judges were pleased with the quality of the taste, presentation and pairing ability of the young chefs. “The dishes were world-class and there were a couple of truly outstanding brandy pairings,” Holdcroft said.

“The SACA KZN YCC look forward to hosting the competition again next year and building on the success of this year’s event,” Smith said.

(Snegugu with Zaba at the Ball) 

East Coast Radio’s Zaba slipped on her Fairy Godmother stilettos last night, when she treated 18 year old Snegugu Mthiyane to a once-in-a-lifetime matric dance experience, complete with TV cameras, a chauffeured snazzy car and a Prince Charming to accompany her.  

Auditions for The Lion King

Durban July 12th Playhouse for Singers 18 - 30 

Joburg - 19th July Bassline, Newtown for Singers 18 - 30 

ECR's Mak Dlamini tried to take on a British Airways A380

East Coast Radio's Mak Dlamini had a race with a British Airways A380 yesterday.

(Mak getting some tips from Bryan Habana)

Mak put in some highly impressive footwork.  He gave it his all.  Did he succeed? Read on to find out.

The British Airways A380 touched down at King Shaka Airport as part of a publicity campaign for its new
Man Vs Plane contest.

(On your marks!) 

Mak gave it his best but sadly the machine pipped Mak by a few seconds.

(Pictures - Supplied)

Article by +Fred Felton 

More than R1 million raised during Toy Story Corporate Day

Tonight, thousands of east coasters will go to bed as heroes, having helped make a difference to the lives of ill, orphaned and destitute children in KZN. East Coast Radio’s Toy Story with Game thanks all our un-caped crusaders who have helped us raise a whopping

R1 034 380 during our Toy Story Corporate Day Challenge, 12 November 2013.

(Cameron Delport, Crystalene Nair, Makhosi Khoza and Bianca Warren)

The money will be used to provide meals to primarily child-headed households across KZN. This as Toy Story continues to roll out toy drop-offs at hospitals, children’s homes and orphanages. For many little ones, it’s the first time their little fingers would’ve unwrapped a new toy; the first time they’ve experienced a shiver of excitement when presented with a gift and the first time they have the joy of holding something that is completely theirs.

Damon Beard extended his show for 15 minutes after 6pm to make sure the campaign topped the R1 million mark!

Celebrities from all over South Africa joined East Coast Radio presenters at Suncoast Casino, Hotel and Entertainment to make this possible. The Parlotones, Amazulu players, Gangs of Ballet, celebrity chef Deena Naidoo, The Arrows, Matthew Mole, Patricia Lewis, KZN singer and actor Rory Booth, Dolphins player Cameron Delport, former rugby star Stefan Terblanche, KZN fashion designer Bianca Warren, former rugby star Cedrick Mkhize, KZN Idols hero Crystalene Nair, SA fitness expert Lisa Raleigh, singer and actor Mario Ogle and many others all took time out from their hectic schedules to help answer the Toy Story pledge line and urge corporates and businesses to donate.  Calls came in thick and fast as east coasters opened their wallets and challenged their friends and competitors.

Breakfast show host Darren Maule threw down a titillating challenge of his own: if KZN businesses, corporates and individuals managed to donate over R300,000 by the end of his show at 9am, he will run through Suncoast Casino, Hotel and Entertainment in a speedo. Darren, being a good sport, made good on his promise. Those who witnessed him in his itsy bitsy trunks will sadly never be the same….

East Coast Radio’s Marketing Manager, Renee Burton, says, “Toy Story is about mobilising KZN to own part of the solution to some of the ills that face our children. It might just be one toy but the impact is long-lasting. The support from east coasters has been overwhelming.”

Thank you KZN. You have always given generously to help us make a difference to the children of our province and you didn’t disappoint us this year! We sent out an appeal, and you didn’t just open your hearts to our cause but you opened your wallets too and got your friends, colleagues and competitors to do the same. You have helped us bring light, love and hope to thousands of little ones on the east coast.

If you didn’t get involved in the Corporate Day Challenge, there’s still time to be a hero. Donations can be made until 6 December, via the following means:

How to donate:

1.      Buy a new toy and pop it into a collection box at any Game store in KZN.

2.      Make a cash donation for food parcels online at www.ecr.co.za

3.      Make an electronic transfer via the following:

East Coast Radio Charitable Association

Bank: First National Bank Commercial

Branch: Gateway

Branch number: 25 01 08

Account number: 622 224 283 37

Reference: Your name

For more information visit www.ecr.co.za

(Source - East Coast Radio) 

Read about Infecting the city, an Executive Breakfast and a Short Story.

The Africa Centre is proud to announce an astonishing array of over 54 dance, music, theatre, installation and other visual art forms that re-think our City in the sixth edition of Infecting The City Public Arts Festival.

The Festival Programme Launch is taking place at 4.00pm on Monday, 4th March in the St George's Room at the Taj Hotel (cnr. Adderley Street and Wale Street). If you are in Cape Town and can make it, please RSVP.

For those of you who cannot make the Programme Launch, join us from the 11-16th March to experience:

• Catherine Henegan’s acclaimed Afro Galactic Dream Factory;
• Mamela Nyamza’s triumphant return from sellout London shows;
• 1000 paper jets of artworks released regally into the city skies by Jason Potgieter;
• A “real-time” performance of daily news headlines by Jazzart;
• The Cape Philharmonic Orchestra framed by Church Square;
• A painstaking construction of a fragile wooden edifice inside the District Six Museum by Aeneas Wilder and Winnie Sze;
• Sprawling glow stick installations across city pavements by Marcus Neustetter;
• The 5 movement prayer, confession, mantra, manifesto and catharsis of Country of Grief and Grace performed by Neo Muyanga and the Siyaya Chorus;
• The tragic and thought-provoking performance, Widow by Mandisi Shindo – exploring loss and triumph outside the St George’s Cathedral;
• A Light Symphony by French artist Antoine Schmidt on Church Square; and
• A Mask flashmob, a 40 strong Flute mob, gospel singers on bicycles and a mob of over 300 skateboarders cruising through the City.

Join us and hundreds of artists from the 11th March at 6.00pm in The Company's Gardens, in front of the Iziko South African Museum. 

(Source - Africa Centre) 

GIBS and East Coast Radio Executive Breakfast - Leading with Impact

Join GIBS, East Coast Radio and Trade and Investment KZN for the third annual and much anticipated executive business breakfast - Leading with Impact. Confirmed speakers include: Brian Molefe, CEO: Transnet; Prof Nick Binedell, dean: GIBS; Nicola Tyler, CEO: Business Results Group; Norman Chorn, author: Future Builders; and Buhle Dlamini, founder: Young & Able Date: Thursday, 7 March 2013 Time: 07:30 - 11:00 Venue: ICC, Durban, 45 Bram Fischer Road, Durban Fees: R500 per person, R4 750 for a table of ten Contact: Gloria Bokaba on 011 771 4229 or email bokabag@gibs.co.za

(Source - East Coast Radio) 

A SHORT STORY by Andrew Verster 

The Wharmbys are a farming family from West Yorkshire who have a mill where others in the district bring their corn and millet.

“He’s not cheap, but he can ask what he likes as he has the monopoly.”  

It wasn’t always so. Jervis Downend was the other miller, but his unexplained death two and a half months ago when he fell under a bull-dozer driven by Maureen Bumcombe has raised eyebrows in the community.

The Reverend J Morice Stiff  said,  when interviewed by the Western Chronicle, “I am not one to cast aspersions, but I’ve known Maureen since she was a toddler at the Tiny Tots Nursery and she is the best bull-dozer driver we have.”

“Actually, the only one,” Polly Hudd corrected.

“Be that as it may, let’s not be diverted, it is whispered that there was something going on between the two of them.”

“Yes, they were engaged to be married.”

“That’s beside the point. We must wait for the autopsy before jumping to conclusions.”

As this story is going nowhere, this is a good place to stop.

Andrew Verster is a World Famous Artist and Writer Based in Durban, South Africa. 

ANDREWVERSTER784@GMAIL.COM