Cook-off and tests for 2019 Distell Inter Hotel Challenge in Cape Town

The 2019 Distell Inter Hotel Challenge has 28 hotels participating, with plenty of wine stewards from all over the country battling for first place.  After months of learning, visits, playing with tastes, the young chefs and wine steward candidates get to have their knowledge and skills tested at the Cook-off sessions.  Because there are so many candidates, the Cape Town leg of tests is done over 2 days - at the Capsicum Culinary Studio. We attended day 2 - 12th June.

It was a flurry of activity when we arrived - as the bread feedback was just happening.  Such positive criticism for the young chefs - for the delicious breads which they made from the BioWheat flour.
The following hotels were represented on the day: Twelve Apostles, Southern Sun/Tsogo Sun, Radisson Blu, Lanzerac, La Residence (SILO),  Spier and Grootbos.

The Wine Stewards have 2 main sections -
1. Food & Wine Pairing session - where they will have worked with their chefs to prepare the best meal to match the wines and spirits which they were allocated. The judges for the pairing for this year are Cape Wine Master Chris de Klerk and Chef Craig McCormack. They had plenty of fun enjoying the pairings!
2. The Wine Test - where they present to 2 judges - this time to Cape Wine Master Sandy Harper and Sommelier at large Jean Vincent Ridon.  The day was long and testy but after chatting with many of the contestants, they seemed to have it all covered.

I took 2 of our wine.co.za team members along to see how the competition works, so was delighted to see our new Editor/Content Marketer Thomas Davidson and Content Editor Yoliswa Masekwana engaging with everyone there.
We wish all the candidates the very best - and look forward to the awards evening on the 3rd August 2019 at the Belmond Mount Nelson again.