THE TRUMAN SHOW went to the One&Only Reaching for Young Stars Awards showcasing the best young epicures of 2019:
Photographs: A selection of dishes by the Young Stars, photographed by Franz Lauinger
The One&Only Cape Town hosted another magnificent awards event showcasing the best young epicures of 2019. This 9th annual awards welcomed the stalwarts of the hospitality industry, all determined and passionate in their efforts to encourage the young stars in their quest for excellence.
This year’s event was no less spectacular than their previous awards. Annette Kesler and Chania Morritt-Smith are the concept creators, organisers and drivers behind South Africa’s only inter-hotel mentorship challenge that culminates in an epicurean feast showcasing the mastery of the students and awarding them accordingly.
This remarkable acknowledgement of young stars has for the past nine years been hosted by One&Only Cape Town. General Manager, Richard Lyon has been consistent in his support throughout and in making it possible for winners to experience life enhancing opportunities abroad. Last year’s winner, Rutendo Ruth Marovatsanga, completed her internship at One&Only The Palms and One&Only Royal Mirage, in Dubai. This year’s winner, Oigen Kaptein, from The Private Hotel School, will travel to the gold listed Condé Nast Traveller One&Only Le Saint Géran in Mauritius.
Preparations for this event started in August when students participated in the Skills Exchange Development Programme that saw them meet renown hospitality industry experts who have already found success in South Africa and around the world. They met the partners and nine judges and worked with the farmers and producers who supplied the food ingredients for this prestigious finale.
Commitment to mentorship
Maylene Broderick Chief Director: Enterprise Development and Transformation, Ministry of Tourism, one of the honoured speakers, reiterated President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement of two new focus sectors for the country: Tourism and the Oceans Economy. The President committed the sector to ensuring that we bring 21 million visitors a year to South Africa by 2030. Tourism, she assured, is a dynamic and growing sector and never before has there been a better time to be in it.
Susina Jooste, Director at the Private Hotel School, emphasised the importance of mentorship and working with accredited programmes in order to maintain standards and deliver quality learning interventions. She also expressed the ardent need for the three main stakeholders in this venture (the young stars, providers and industry and industry leaders), to consistently work together in order to ensure that the new entrants can meet the growing and ever changing needs of the South African landscape.
Both Annette Kesler and Chania Morritt-Smith echoed that securing the future health and success of tourism is a collaborative project.
“We have a responsibility to ensure South Africa’s hospitality stars are found and nurtured right here on our soil,” says Annette Kesler. “That’s what the One&Only Reaching for Young Stars has at its heart. Chania and I can’t make this happen unless the hotels and culinary academics themselves stand alongside us.”
Young Stars speak
In order to understand why so much effort is made year after year by the judges and sponsors to assist the Young Stars, one only has to read the quotes from the Young Stars themselves.
I chose the hospitality industry because it’s a passion and I know this will become a life-long career and not just provide employment.
It is being a scientist, an artist, a perfectionist, a track star and you have to have a passion for good food.
I do not just love it. I live it.
My ultimate goal is to bring a sense of joy and elegance as well as a personal touch to my food. I find an amazing feeling of peace and excitement as I move through my culinary journey.
I came into this competition not only to win but to learn and expand my knowledge.
All my life I enjoyed food and the company of people. I always want to see better in people, better in their appreciation of life and all its wonder. I started cooking professionally a year and a half ago and every day I am looking for more excitement more challenge and more humility. If there ever was anything to take seriously it is joy, and its price is almost the price of life. I’m here today, to enjoy food in an influential way. I’m here to enjoy the effort.
I love what I do, and I know the working hours are long, but I enjoy every moment of it.
Food to me is what brings life together. The world is full of war, disputes and politics. However, food has always been served as the ambassador for peace, for celebration and it is the advocate of peace, sitting down, talking and sharing.
I have enjoyed every single minute of my studies and it feels amazing and fulfilling to study what I love and what I feel I was born to do.
Do what you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.
It’s very re-assuring to know that so many of the young entrants into this industry have such maturity in thinking, and we have no doubt that many of them will be future giants in the hospitality sector. Annette Kesler and Chania Morritt-Smith have done it again with their determined and passionate support of young stars in our hospitality industry. We left the venue, humbled to have been part of an event of such unconditional giving and delight.
Kiru and Neil Truman are passionate about wine and food (as long as Kiru does not have to cook it). Apart from loving what goes down in their own backyard in the Western Cape, they have also been spotted sampling local offerings in Italy, Argentina, Uruguay, Greece, Thailand (there are a few nifty wine farms there), New Zealand, and soon … where will it be next?
WS
