VIDEO: Visagie know’s how to dine and wine – and is R10k richer
Four Lowvelders took centre stage on Come Dine With Me South Africa last night, March 20.
Four vibrant locals shone on BBC’s ever-popular show, Come Dine with Me, and Wynand Visagie walked away with R10 000 with his spectacular menu and excellent presentation, beating Caroline Harris by just one point in last night’s episode, Wednesday, March 19.
One point and on par with that extra little bit of Lowveld flair, is how one could explain Visagie’s turn in front of the stove.
The much-loved BBC Lifestyle series Come Dine With Me South Africa‘s historic Lowveld debut aired on television last night on channel 174.
Four Mbombelans were set with their menus and recipes and charmed the viewers and their fellow hosts alike with their unique personalities and culinary skills.
ALSO READ: Chef Pieter Malan triumphs at Culinary Olympics in Germany
And they did not disappoint.
Harris, Azande Shongwe, Zubeida Essack and Visagie did Mbombela and Mpumalanga proud. With 22 points, Visagie bagged the R10 000 that was up for grabs.
The narrator of the show, Dave Lamb, was once again his perky self with his brilliant commentary during each segment.
The episode kicked off with Harris, The Old Packhouse Distillery brand ambassador and known Bingo royalty.
“My ego will let me win Come Dine with Me,” Harris said.
As a starter she served tiger prawns and avocado summer salad. Grilled lamb chops, as a main course, served with chimichurri sauce, crispy jacked potatoes and roasted butternut, drizzled with a yogurt and pine dressing, and her dessert, Orange Mont Aux, a tribute to her mother, set the menu on par for the cook-off to begin.
Harris impressed her guests with her theme, ‘Black tie with a splash of colour’ and welcomed them all with the words, ‘Let it be a night to remember.’
She received a score of 21 points from her fellow contestants.
Next up was Shongwe.
The bubbly architecture graduate, infused her turn in the kitchen with international flavours.
The starter was hake a là Francaise, topped with beef rashers; lamb curry, rotis and basmati rice for a main course and cannoli as her dessert.
Shongwe’s theme was ‘Summer chic’, and the guests enjoyed every moment with the sounds of the glasses’ ching-ching. She could, however, not satisfy all her guests and could only bag 16 points.
Essack, a local tax consultant with a love of hearty cooking and a no-nonsense approach, offered the contestants her menu, featuring biltong and cabanossi salad, a customisable chicken pasta dish and a refreshing yogurt dessert.
The atmosphere was lively and festive, but her bold flavours sparking spirited debates around the table.
Essack’s theme for the evening was, ‘Home is where the heart is’ and Harris entered the party with a life-sized wooden mannequin named ‘Damson’, much to the delight of the other contestants.
At the end of the evening, Essack bagged 15 points.
But the show went to the financial adviser, Visagie.
@lowvelder And the winner is? Wynand Visagie, Zubeida Essack, Azande Shongwe and Caroline Harris took each other on and dazzled viewers with their culinary skills in Come Dine With Me South Africa‘s historic Lowveld debut. Read all about the winner in this week’s edition of the Lowvelder. #comedinewithme #southafricatiktok🇿🇦 #bbc #lowveldliving #winner #cheff #cookoff > Video: Supplied
The ‘thorn among the roses’, shone with his menu.
As a starter, Visagie served savage fusion wraps – a sushi roll with biltong, cream cheese, avocado and sweet peppers. As his main course, a fall-of-the-bone stacked lamb rhapsody with a presentation on plate to die for.
With his theme, ‘Island style in the Bushveld’ rounded the evening off with his dessert, shattered velvet dreams with a marula-flavoured crème brûlée, it was quite uncertain who was going to walk away with the prize money.
But it was Visagie, walking away R10k richer, beating Harris with only one point by earning 22 points.
Harris said at the end of the episode: “I may not be the winner of the R10 000, but I am three people richer.”
As for Visagie, he could only lift his glass of bubbly and say: “I am over the moon.”
Cheers to all the contestants, you make Mbombela proud, shining on BBC with your culinary skills.
