Nerves were tense on Tuesday night when Ballito’s best amateur chefs were randomly paired with their professional partner chefs for the “Fleur Du Cap So You think you can cook Ballito Style?” at La Montagne, Ballito.

In next week’s competition the eight teams will test their culinary and creative skills to produce mouthwatering dishes by combining mystery box ingredients which align with two of the five elements of fire, water, wood, metal, or earth.

Each team also drew their element combination for the competition.

The chefs will battle for position in the two elimination rounds (July 1 and 2) for the final round on July 3 to win the coveted title of Mr Price Pro Ballito Chef .

Children also have a chance to prove their skill in the kitchen. Twelve aspiring young chefs will be paired together with students from the International Hotel School to compete for amazing prizes at the “Fine Young Cooks Awards”.

Added to this year’s varied programme is the new and exciting baking contest, the Ballito Cake Boss Competition. Ballito’s best cake bosses will don their aprons to create and decorate a cake depicting one of the five elements.

The competitions are part of the extremely popular Coastal Living Bru Food and Wine Exhibition (July 1-3), which is returning to La Montagne Resort in Ballito for its second year. The festival forms part of the international surfing competition Mr Price Pro Ballito.

The festival will showcase local flavour and flare with an abundance of food and brew artisans exhibiting their wares, a wine auction, a coffee showcase, a Cognac and Whiskey Lounge and and wine tasting from a variety of of Cape Legends Wine Estates.

Models will strut the catwalk in the daily fashion shows culminating in a new innovative designer show. All three fashion show nights will be choreographed by the award winning designer, choreographer, stylist and model scout Kevin Ellis.

 The Coastal Living Bru Food and Wine Exhibition will be open from 6pm until late.