Madame Zingara presents chefs on stage

6 chefs spar off to create the most popular winter menu

Madame Zingara will pit the culinary prowess of her best chefs, menu-to-menu at The Sidewalk Cafe in Vredehoek for six weeks starting Friday 3 June. The heat of competition will fuel this spectacular cook off in which each of the 6 chefs will be vying to create the most popular winter menu.

Each chef will showcase a specially crafted menu over breakfast, lunch and dinner for a one week period and diners will be asked to vote for their favourite chef by ballot in the restaurant. The chefs will also be interacting with diners to share tips, answer any culinary conundrums and, no doubt, curry favour in the voting stakes!

First to flaunt his stuff from 3 to 9 June will be Warren “where’s my second beer” Carney. Warren has a Cordon Bleu Grande Diploma from Silwood Kitchen and has worked as far afield as New York.

Next up from 10 to 16 June is Jody “Sonnic” Carolus, who has been passionate about food since he was a boy. Inspired by cooking shows on television, he enrolled at The Institute of Culinary Arts in Stellenbosch where he graduated with a degree followed by a stint at Admirals Cove Golf Estate situated in Jupiter, Florida in the USA.

17 to 23 June marks the turn of Joe “Pretty Boy” Otway, who hails from England, and has a diploma from City and Guild in Brighton, as well as the enviable experience of having worked with the likes of Aldo Zilli’s Italian Kitchen.

And then, Chris “English” Ditch takes centre stage from 24 to 30 June. Also an Aldo Zilli protégé, young Chris worked his way up from dishwasher to the talented chef he is today.

Michelle “Pitbull” Tamas follows from 1 to 7 July. She has a wealth of experience, much of it garnered on the prestigious Queen Mary 2, as one of only 5 women in a kitchen complement of 280.

Last but not least from 8 to 14 July is Heinrich “Shrek” Koen who has been with Madame Zingara for several years and is now Executive chef of Cafe Paradiso. His credentials include time with culinary heavyweights Jamie Oliver and Aldo Zilli. His considerable skills extend to wine and cheese making.

But what’s a competition if there’s nothing in it for you?  Each week voters stand a chance to win a sumptuous brunch for 4 at the charming Cafe Mozart.

Sidewalk Cafe
33 Derry Street | Vredehoek | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 461 2839

Madame Zingara is back in Cape Town.

Madame Zingara’s restaurants are a big culinary part of Cape Town. Breakfast at Café Mozart is a lovely start into the day in town, or a croissant and newspaper in windy Vredehoek at the Sidewalk Café. Lunch or dinner is worth a visit at Café Paradiso or the gypsy Bombay Bicycle Club.

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