Potjie competition raises over R32 000 for Orphan Fund

The annual Swan and Seasnake Potjie and Punch competition raised more than R32 000 for The North Coast Courier Orphan Fund last weekend.

Hosted by Matt Coningham at his home in Salt Rock on Saturday, the competition saw 16 teams take on the challenge in search of potjie immortality.

Teams could be spotted setting up from 8am, ensuring their proprietary blends of herbs and spices had ample time to cook off before judges did their rounds in the afternoon.

And to make sure there were no claims of pot-fixing, top judges from the North Coast’s thriving culinary scene were enlisted for the honours.

The six judges picked were Louis Lesch and Godfrey Kinyanjui from Simbithi’s Fig Tree Restaurant, Fabian Durocher-Yvon from Fiamma Grill, Clare Sykes from the Orange Tree, Gareth Arnold from The Barrel and Courtney Caulfield from Seedlings Café.

Although they did not concur on everything, the judges agreed that the Majuba After Party team made up of Stuart Millar, Alex Holmes, Iain Pearson and Mark Schroenn had delivered the best combination of potjie, punch and style on the day.

They cooked a tantalising Cape Malay potjie of venison, wildebeest and bushpig with a side of honey seared pumpkin and sourdough pot bread.

To wash it all down, they brewed up a punch made of local Ginsala, kombucha, pressed sugarcane juice, beetroot and ginger which, combined with their potjie, blew the judges away.

It was the second win in three years for Millar, Holmes and Pearson, who took top honours as ‘Englishman, Scotsman and Dutchman’ when the event was held in 2021.

Adding Schroenn did not mean that too many chefs would spoil the pot luckily, and the team will surely be back in search of their third victory next year.

The competition has 14 years of heritage after first being held when Coningham was living in London in 2009.

“It has probably been held in some form in most of South Africa’s cities at this point. The only constant is that every event is held to benefit underprivileged kids in some way,” said Coningham.

He picked the Orphan Fund and has raised more than R60 000 for the charity since it has landed on North Coast shores.

Orphan Fund co-ordinator, Charmaine Premlal, thanked Coningham for his selection and for all his efforts to ensure the day was a success.

“We are so thankful that Matt picked us and continues to open his home year-on-year in support of our cause. It was a fantastic day and we really appreciate the lengths he went to,” said Premlal.

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