Chefs impress at Coastal Living Bru

After the day’s activities during the Ballito Pro, those who like tasting the good life flocked to La Montagne Resort for the Coastal Living Bru Food and Wine Exhibition.

Foodies got to enjoy fabulous food from the pop-up restaurants like Mozambik, The Beach Hut, Bottles Tex Mex and Mamma G’s.

There was a selection of wines and other artisan beverages to taste accompanied by delicious olives, cheeses, a selection of meats and even alcohol infused ice cream.

It was the popular Fleur du Cap So You Think You Can Cook Ballito Style cooking competition that drew the masses towards the stage, with salivating aromas filling the space.

Pro chefs paired with amateur chefs to impress the judges the most.

The final saw pro chef Monique Naudé from New York Restaurant and Bar, Umhlanga with amateur chef Cassidy van den Heever walk away with the win in dramatic fashion.

The other finalists were Fairmont Zimbali’s Dean Uren and partner Morwenna Lintott, La Piazza’s John McArdle and Cameron Easton, The Beach Hut’s Michael Ovens and Kyle Dick, and the North Coast Courier’s own foodie critic David Hoehler, and Wendy Bouwer.

Our own David Hoehler was the only pro chef to not work in a restaurant daily but impressed the judges with a main course of prawn thermidor with green thai curry lentils and chilli and dessert was a poached pear and red wine cardamon and orange served with creme fraiche and a sesame seed brittle.

The Fine Young Cooks Awards was also held each night and saw mind blowing dishes produced from small, young foodies.

The winners for each night were Kai Coates, Julie Blevin and Matthew Wocke.