Following two highly successful events over the past two years, the black-tie charity gala ‘Chefs who share – the ART of giving’ will be back in Cape Town on Thursday 10 September 2015. This year it will take place in the City Hall in the city centre. This spectacular event was created by Barbara Lenhard in 2013 to raise funds for youth development in South Africa.
14 of the country’s top chefs will be paired in teams of two to create a culinary feast for culinary 252 guests. They will be joined by seven acclaimed sommeliers which will perfectly pair each of their dishes with wine.
The teams are as follows, and they really are power houses of the South African culinary world…just have a look:
Chef Teams 2015
Team 1
Christo Pretorius, Azure at The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa
Virgil Kahn, Indochine at Delaire Graff
Gegory Mutambe, Head Sommelier at The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa
Team 2
Malika van Reenen, Signal at Cape Grace
Grégory Czarnecki, Waterkloof Estate Restaurant
Neil Grant, ex-Sommelier Rust en Vrede, owner of Burrata, Bocca and Open Door restaurants
Team 3
Rudi Liebenberg, Planet Restaurant at Belmond Mount Nelson
Marthinus Ferreira, DW Eleven-13
Pearl Oliver, Sommelier, Planet Restaurant at Belmond Mount Nelson
Team 4
Michelle Theron, Pierneef à La Motte
Bertus Basson, Overture Restaurant
Manuel Cabello, Head Sommelier, Ellerman House
Team 5
Garth Almazan, Catharina’s at Steenberg
Darren Badenhorst, The Restaurant at Grande Provence
Higgo Jacobs, independent wine consultant
Team 6
Scot Kirton, La Colombe, Silvermist Wine Estate
Chantel Dartnall, Mosaic at The Orient Boutique Hotel
Germain Lehodey, Sommelier at Mosaic at The Orient Boutique Hotel
Team 7
Chris Erasmus, Foliage
Jürgen Schneider, Springfontein Eats at Springfontein Wine Estate
Joakim Blackadder, Portfolio Manager at Vinovation
This year sees an exciting addition to the event, the `Chefs who share – Young Chef Award’, a once in a lifetime opportunity for South Africa’s up and coming chefs to join their culinary idols at Chefs who share. An elimination process has been taking place and will continue over the next few weeks, after which seven young chefs from around South Africa will be invited to cook at the glamorous event with their experienced peers. The incredible reward for the winner on the evening will be to cook in a Michelin-starred restaurant and experience two days in Champagne, a once in a lifetime opportunity that will no doubt change their lives.
Gerry Elsdon and Jeremy Mansfield will be the MC’s for the evening, with Iain Banner presiding over the now legendary auction. There is an opportunity for guests to bid on outstanding works of art by some of South Africa’s leading artists, and there will also be exclusive travel and leisure experiences on offer.
As in previous years, 100% of the money raised at ‘Chefs who share – the ART of giving’ via ticket sales, as well as all proceeds from the auction will go to two carefully charity groups, MAD Leadership Foundation and the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. In the last two years the event raised close to R4 million. The ‘Veggie Box’ initiative provides nutritious meals to school children and educates about healthy meals and how to develop sustainable vegetable gardens in underprivileged areas and is another ongoing project of Chef’s who share.
The event would not be possible without ongoing presenting partner Mercedes-Benz and associate sponsors Deutsche Bank, Swiss International Air Lines and Bulgari, Barbara and her team have set the stakes high to ensure that this year’s gala will once again exceed all expectations. And knowing Barbara I’m sure it will!
