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Written by The winner of the South African leg of the 2013 Global Pizza Challenge is Tammy Henton, ala Carte Chef at the Michelangelo Hotel in Sandton, Johannesburg.
Tammy will be representing South Africa in the Global Pizza Challenge in Australia in June this year following her success at the national competition held at Hostex Gauteng last week, where her Sticky Pork pizza impressed the judges and came out tops.
Over 70 original pizzas were entered and judged on originality, balance, creativity, and ‘excitement factor’ in categories that included Meat Pizza, to Chicken Pizza, Vegetarian Piazza, Best Seafood Pizza, Best Speciality Pizza and Best Dessert Pizza – the overall winning pizza was then selected from the top pizzas in each category.
Tammy is thrilled that her Sticky Pork pizza won. “The pizza originated from a simple idea started at home some years ago. I always make a pork pizza the evening after hosting a braai at my house, using left over pork rib meat.
My family and friends thoroughly enjoy the pizza and I knew I just had to enter it in the Global Pizza Challenge – it’s just that yummy!” says Tammy.
A separate category, which carried its own prize of R10 000 in cash from sponsor Tabasco, was the Best Tabasco Pizza. This category was won by Pieter Malan of Ginelli’s in Middelburg who will be using his winnings to start a Chefs for Christ organisation.
Other pizza-makers who impressed the judges include:
Jodi Ann Pearton (Food Design Agency, Johannesburg) who made a Tandori Chicken pizza
Werner Spoehr (Saxon Hotel, Johannesburg) who prepared a Roasted Pepper pizza
Citrum Khumalo (Asidle Gourmet Catering, Johannesburg) who made an African-inspired Cow hooves & Morogo (spinach) pizza
Matteo Latorre (Pizza Vino, Johannesburg) who prepared a Spring Bokkie pizza
Tammy Henton once again wowed the judges in the dessert category with her Spicy Lemon Meringue dessert pizza.
Fatima Jardine-Millard (Amamaus Café Bakery) who won the Hychem Hygiene Award.
This year’s judges were Jeff Schureman Executive chef and project manager of Royal Mnandi, George Georgiou, Executive Chef at Silverstar Hotel and Kurt Quadflieg of Panarottis, who was the 2012 SA Global Pizza Challenge winner. Guest judges included Peter Wright, President of the Australian Culinary Federation and MasterChef SA Judge and Tsogo Sun Executive Chef Benny Masekwameng.
In addition to Tabasco as the main sponsor, other sponsors who ensured the success of the competition include: Prenox, HOSTEX, CTIA (Culinary Training and Innovation Academy), Tafelstern Crockery, Bandini Cheese, Braeside Butchery, MJ Eventgear, Expovent Evolutions, Roast & Grind, Unilever Food Solutions, Hychem and Rialto Foods.
“This year was another amazing experience for us,” says Arnold Tanzer, Global Pizza Challenge organiser, former Continental Director of the World Association of Chefs (WACS) for Africa and the Middle East, and Culinary Producer for MasterChef South Africa. “There are just no boundaries as to what can be conjured up with a little creativity. Each year our contestants prove that pizza is not just a round, flat, oven-baked bread topped with a tomato base, protein, vegetables and cheese – it can be anything you’re able to dream up; and we’re always excited to see what our contestants come up with.”
“We are proud to have Tammy Henton and Kurt Quadflieg represent South Africa at the Global Pizza Challenge finals in Australia this year. They will definitely put South Africa on the map as a country that could give Italy a run for their money when it comes pizza-making. We’re always pleased to see what the South African Culinary industry has to offer,” says Martin Kobald, Global Pizza Challenge organiser, Honorary President of the South African Chefs Association (SACA) and UN World Food Program Ambassador for Africa.
For more information on the Global Pizza Challenge, or to find out how you can get in on the pizza-making action in 2014, visit www.globalpizzachallenge.com
