By Zee:
Darling, gather ’round – because if you weren’t at the Proudly South African Winter Warmer Media Cook-Off, then were you even in Midrand last week?
Held at the ultra-chic Breadbox Bakery and Studio (yes, the one that screams “Pinterest board come to life”), this black-owned culinary hotspot played host to a media showdown that had journalists trading pens for paring knives – and trust us, the heat wasn’t just in the kitchen.
The morning started innocently enough. Warm bowls of velvety butternut soup and golden, deep-fried vetkoek were served like a hug in a mug. Guests smiled, posed, and Instagrammed their first bites. But behind those polite chuckles and casual greetings? The quiet tension of competition was brewing.
Next thing you know – bam! Mystery boxes are slapped down like plot twists in a soap opera. Six teams, including yours truly and a bunch of other “serious media types” (who suddenly forgot how to hold a spatula), were told: “Cook. Impress. Don’t burn anything.”
The theme? Seven Colours – that fabulous South African Sunday lunch tradition where every dish brings a riot of colour, culture, and calories. It was less “Sunday roast” and more “Survivor: Kitchen Edition.” And hunny, let’s just say – there were side-eyes sharper than the knives.
The scene? Sizzling pans, frantic whispers, one near-miss with a blender (we won’t name names… for now), and more paprika than should legally be allowed in one space. One influencer tried to flambé something with a tea light. Another journalist sautéed chicken with the elegance of a soapie villain making their dramatic return from the dead. I’m telling you – it was culinary chaos, and we lived for it.
Enter the judges: Happy Makhumalo Ngidi, calm as ever, and a local celeb chef who helped us elevate our grandmother’s recipes into gourmet goodness. They sampled. They smiled. They scored.
And guess what? My team took the crown. (Yes, sweetie, we’re still dining out on that win.)
We served a plate so colourful it could’ve hosted its own daytime talk show. Flavour? Fire. Presentation? Flawless. Victory? Delicious.
With bubbly flowing, a drinks menu that catered to the sober and the slightly tipsy, and service that knew what we needed before we even said it, this event was less cook-off, more curated sensory feast. Proudly SA didn’t just serve food. They served vibes.
The final scoop?
Whispers say Proudly SA has a few more surprises up their sleeve this year, and if this cook-off is anything to go by, you’ll want to be on that guest list, baby. Until then, I’ll be over here, polishing my (imaginary) culinary trophy and avoiding any kitchen that doesn’t serve champagne.- @NewsSA_Online