Four Ashton International College Ballito pupils filled the air with amazing aromas during a sizzling cooking showdown in the Elba Kitchen at Hirsch’s Ballito recently.

Grade 10 pupils Kade Boertjie, Owami Mdabe, Maddie Ingles and Bella Coetzee were the chefs in the Italian-inspired contest, while restaurateurs David and Ishara Chetty and actors Kumseela and Kubeshan Naidoo had the judging honours.

The prize on offer was a spot in the Culinary Teens Titans Challenge finals at the upcoming East Coast Radio House & Garden Show, from June 28 to July 6.

A veritable feast was cooked up, but it was Coetzee’s homemade pasta and delicious cannelloni that took top place.

“I was very excited to be part of this competition and very grateful that companies like Hirsch’s and Elba invest in these events for us high school pupils,” said Coetzee.

Nobody left empty-handed, however. All contestants received an Elba/Totai portable gas stove and apron, a bottle of Cotton Gold cooking oil, a Hirsch’s vegan cookbook, a Hirsch’s pen and voucher and a USB stick. Ashton’s consumer studies teacher, Vanessa Andreou, enjoyed the day.

“The competition gave the students an opportunity to showcase their skills and be part of an out-of-the-classroom experience. Consumer studies is a life learning subject, and these events add value to what we teach,” she said.

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