If you are an aspiring chef or want a change of career, then make sure you enter Capsicum Culinary Studio’s Chef Talent Scout Competition.
Stand the chance of winning one of six bursaries – with the combined value of R740 000 – including the ultimate prize of a three-year bursary towards the study of the school’s Advanced Culinary Arts Programme valued at R200 000.
The other five prizes will be one-year bursaries for a Professional Chef Programme or Professional Patisserie Programme, awarded to regional finalists to study at one of Capsicum Culinary Studio’s six campuses across the country – Boksburg, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Pretoria, and Rosebank (Johannesburg).
To enter the competition:
- Contestants must create a dish – sweet or savoury – using a red capsicum pepper or any other red ingredient; take a good, clear photo of the finished dish and upload it onto their Instagram page, tagging @Capsicumcooking and using the hashtag #CapsicumTalent. Entrants must be 17 years of age or older.
The competition closes at midnight on Monday, November 30, 2020 with the names of the 10 finalists from each region announced on Wednesday, December 9, 2020.
Those finalists will then be invited to participate in a cook-off on January 20, 2021, at the Capsicum campus closest to them, where they will have to prepare the dish they entered, using their own ingredients.
The winner from each campus will then compete in a cook-off to be held at Capsicum’s Rosebank campus for the final cook-off on Saturday, February 6, 2021, where they will have to create the ultimate dish using ingredients from a mystery basket. (Travel to Gauteng will be sponsored for those living outside the province.)
Says Capsicum Culinary Studio’s Academic Head Candice Adams:
This is an amazing opportunity for six individuals who are passionate about cooking and want to study further to realise their dreams of a career in the hospitality industry at one of South Africa’s best culinary schools.
Adams reminds entrants that they must enter an image of their red dish on Instagram and tag #CapsicumTalent and @Capsicumcooking in order to qualify. See all the Ts&Cs.
To get the creative juices flowing here’s an easy recipe for Gazpacho that is not only healthy and delicious, but also celebrates the colour red.
Gazpacho Recipe (only for inspiration)
Ingredients
- 1kg tomatoes, quartered
- 2 Persian cucumbers, peeled and chopped (if you can’t find, use English cucumbers)
- ½ red capsicum, chopped
- 1 clove garlic, roughly chopped
- 2 tbsp. red wine vinegar
- ½ cup of water
- ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- salt & pepper
- 4 slices ciabatta, cubed
- handful of fresh basil leaves
Method
- Combine tomatoes, cucumbers, pepper, garlic, vinegar, and water in a food blender.
- Blend until smooth, then add most of the olive oil and blend further to combine.
- Taste and season with salt, pepper and more vinegar if preferred.
- Cover and refrigerate until chilled.
- Meanwhile, in a large pan over medium heat, add the rest of the olive oil (enough to coat the bottom of the pan) and add the cubed bread.
- Stir occasionally, until bread is golden and crisp.
- Remove from heat, season with salt, and let cool.
- To serve, divide soup among bowls and drizzle with olive oil.
- Add croutons and basil leaves to garnish.
