Evans Dakwa
The best there is in Beitbridge home cooks was on display at Lutumba Hall, as twelve contestants battled it out for the top three slots up for grabs to represent the District at the Provincial Cookout competition pencilled for the 10th of May.
Traditional food was on the plate, as the women dished out the best in local traditional delicacy in support of the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry push to put the country’s Gastronomy tourism on the map.
The 12 contestants put their heart and sweat out as they fought to impress the three judging panel.In the end, only three cooks could be selected to occupy the best three slots who are proceeding to the provincial cookout battle.
In coming up with the winners, the panel of three judges look at; personal hygiene of the contestants, food hygiene, equipment and cooking area hygiene, presentation of the food, and whether the meal had the full complement of starter, main course and the desert which all carried marks.
In the end Lucia Khumalo emerged the winner, Marshall Muyambi taking second place and Rumbidzai Ribombo coming overall third. The winner could not hide her joy at winning the competition.
“I feel very happy as I won the first prize, surely I am excited, I did not think I was going to be the one but I have done it. I worked very hard to find all the ingredients needed, captured the cooking brief and gave it my all in the competition,” said an ecstatic Lucia Khumalo.
Asked on how she felt for going into the provincial competitions with the weight of expectations of the whole district on her shoulders, the winning cook was very positive.
“I feel great for being able to represent the district, I am going to do more than this as now I do have the experience, I know the expectations and order needed by the judges and we will do it as Beitbridge.”
The competition which is the brain child of first lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, has expanded this year into three categories of community cooks, professional chefs and student chefs. Guest of honour at the cookout completion Senator Tambudzani Mohadi sponsored prizes given to all the 12 contestants.