Great Grapes launches with a cook-off of note

Import company Great Grapes International launched its services this week with a decadent function which saw six Western Cape based chefs competing for an all-expenses paid trip to Europe.

Organiser Marita de Beer, also managing partner of Great Grapes Wine, said the idea behind the afternoon was to showcase South Africa’s quality in terms of chefs and master sommeliers.

Six Cape restaurateur- and sommelier teams competed for the Great Grapes Trophy and an eight-day ‘Around the World of Wine and Food’ tour to Europe, with other prizes including weekends away and gourmet evenings.

At the inaugural Great Grapes Cook-Off Chef Mynhardt Joubert from Bar Bar Black Sheep impressed with his originality.

 

Chefs participating in the 2011 cook-off included Rudi Liebenberg, executive chef from the Mount Nelson Hotel in Cape Town, George Jardine from Jardine’s at Jordan in Stellenbosch, Adrian Buchanan from Freedom Hill Restaurant in Franschhoek, Eric Bulpitt from the Round House in Camps Bay, independent chef Vanie Padayachee and Mynhardt Joubert from Bar Bar Black Sheep in Riebeek Kasteel. Each chef was assisted by sommeliers: Carl Habel, Riaan Mol, Ryan Bredenkamp, Joakim Hansi Blackadder, Josephine Gutentoft and Melusi Magodi respectively.

The teams had access to the Great Grapes wine portfolio to select the wines to match their dishes.

A standout dish on the day was Chef Eric Bulpitt’s duck breast with pickled blueberries matched with Giovanni Rosso Barolo 2005, with Chef Mynhardt Joubert impressing with his original serving of snoek fish cake and sweet potato matched with Torresella Pinot Grigio 2010.

Guests were asked to participate in judging the success of food and wine matches, which would ultimately contribute to the final score from which the winner will be selected. The winners will be announced on Monday, May 16 at the Mount Nelson Hotel.