Chef of the Year for all

The Chef of the Year competition which is run in several categories, is again supported by First National Bank’s division for Tourism Business. “For the fourth year in a row FNB Namibia has supported the annual Chef of the Year competition with an amount of N$10,000. The Namibian Chef’s Association’s annual Chef of the Year competition with school, junior and senior level competitions took place from 18 to 21 June at the Windhoek Afrikaans Privaatskool.
Sophia Snyman Head: Tourism Business at FNB said this competition which also includes a school category is very important to create the awareness about the varied career opportunities provided by the tourism sector. “We need our youth to recognise that a chef is not just a cook, but a well-respected and lucrative career option”, She further explained that gastronomy forms an integral part of the overall experience of visitors to Namibia. “At the same time the senior  chefs had the opportunity to hone their skills and ensure they remain on top of the cooking game thereby delighting the tourists that come to enjoy a good meal at a restaurant or lodge.”
FNB says it is the only Namibian bank with a dedicated division for tourism businesses. The bank has recently launched the FNB & FENATA Tourism Index, which provides regular information to assist individual businesses in understanding the current tourism operating environment while helping them to better plan for the future.
The competition requires chefs to prepare  a three course meal consisting of starter, main course and dessert. The objective is to show howNamibian food is keeping up with modern culinary trends. Judging was done by a panel of approved judges, using the WACS (World Association of Cooks Society) guidelines. Arnold Tanzer culinary producer for Master Chef SA was one of the key judges.