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Calling on all South Africans to support our Culinary Olympic Team

Cricket fans have the Proteas and rugby fans have the Springboks. South African food lovers have a team of passionate chefs who will soon be competing in the IKA Culinary Olympics in Germany. Competing against 40 other countries in October this year, our team will have five-and-a-half hours to prepare a three-course menus for 110 people.

As official headline sponsors of the team, Imperial – and Imperial Group Company, LSC – are particularly proud to be associated with the national culinary team as they strive for gold at the oldest and most prestigious global culinary competition.

South Africa has had a national culinary team for over 30 years and competed in the Olympics for the first time in 1980. In 2008, the team brought back a gold medal in the “hot kitchen” section – a performance they hope to repeat in Germany in October this year.

Representing South Africa in 2016 are:

• Henrico Grobbelaar of Southern Sun, The Cullinan
• Dion Vengatass of Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel
• Blake Anderson of 3SIXTY and Billy G, Montecasino
• Jerome Norton of Four Seasons, The Westcliff Hotel
• Kirstin Hellemann of Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel
• Minette Smith of HTA School of Culinary Art
• Arno Ralph of Lindt & Sprungli SA

 

In the spirit of the team slogan “Masakhane” – which means let’s build each other – the team is inviting the nation to follow their journey to the IKA Culinary Olympics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram under their newly-launched hashtag #SAOlympicChef. A strong show of support on social media by South Africans, foodies and all Imperial employees will give our team a tremendous boost towards bringing home the gold. Messages of encouragement should include the hashtag #SAOlympicChef.

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