Phoenix Bar potjie brings the community together
Chefs showcased their cooking skills at the Phoenix Bar and Restaurant potjie competition
The air was rich with the aroma of simmering spices as laughter and friendly banter filled the space during the potjie competition at the Phoenix Bar and Restaurant in Ferndale.
The lively potjie cooking competition brought together three passionate chefs: two local talents from the neighbourhood and the venue’s own resident chef.
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Each contestant arrived not just with ingredients, but with heart. Their pots bubbled over open flames, each telling a story through layers of flavours, tradition, and creativity.
One chef leaned into bold, simple flavours and made a rich oxtail that was served with rice, while the other two opted for a balance of herbs and slow-cooked tenderness.
The competition wasn’t about rivalry or grand prizes. Instead, it was a celebration of community and compassion. Guests moved from pot to pot, tasting generously, their reactions speaking louder than any scorecards. By the end, attendees were licking their fingers, savouring every last bite.
More importantly, the event carried a deeper purpose. Funds raised throughout the day will be donated to those in need, turning good food into meaningful impact.
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Monty Mathibe, one of the owners of the bar, explained that participants sign up, and they bring their own ingredients, and they cook it up.
“Once they’re done cooking, a group of people come and pay, and we give them one free beer and also an opportunity to taste all of the potjie that they want. It is an eat as much as you can.
“This is mainly for charity; the majority of the proceeds go directly to charity. So it’s for us, it’s something that we want to keep, even if we do remodel and stuff like that. It’s something that we want to market to a wider audience.”
He invites the community to look out for their next competition and to come and support it.
“If we can have five to 10 people coming in and making a project, that would be ideal, because it means that we get to give a little bit more to charity. It makes the event a whole lot worth it.”
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