The second episode of The Taste Master saw SABC 3 and Stella Artois continuing their quest to finding South Africa’s next foodie sensation. This week the remaining seven contestants visited wine country to get some first-hand experience in farm-to-fork and seasonal dining practices. After a masterclass on sustainable farming methods by Boschendal’s own executive chef Christiaan Campbell, the contestants received their challenge – to produce a meal sourced from the estate’s own nine-hectare garden and from other responsible sources nearby. Judges Zola Nene and Gregory Czarnecki added a further twist to the task – to make honey from the farm’s local aviary the key ingredient in each dish.
Alex Torrão and Imtiyaaz Hart dominated this week with their respective dishes, demonstrating the ability to turn the restrictions of a challenge into creative advantages – a defining trait for a Taste Master. Alex created a harvest mix with truffles and honey-infused lamb, while Imtiyaaz brought a South African twist to the traditional cordon bleu.
While all of the contestants rose to the challenge, Masego Marite became the second contestant to bid the show farewell. She presented a cubed sirloin with a garlic and honey glaze with paired potatoes and a fresh garden salad. While the judges raved over her glaze, they unfortunately felt that the dish was too dry and that she should have chosen a different, juicier cut of meat.
“Masego, we’re very sorry to see you go,” Zola Nene says. “While your sauce was absolutely delicious, it’s unfortunate that you chose the wrong cut of meat. We also missed some colour in your plate. All the other plates were very colourful and representative of the garden which you foraged from to create this dish.” Gregory Czarnecki was also disappointed in Masego’s dish but sees her potential and has encouraged her to continue cooking. “You’re doing amazing and I really want to see you keep on cooking,” he says.
Next week, the contestants visit the Nedbank Golf Challenge where they will need to cook for some of their harshest critics yet – the public.
Catch The Taste Master every Tuesday at 19h30 on SABC 3. For more information, visit www.thetastemaster.co.za.
