Time: 07h00 – 14:00 | Ceremony Saturday 05 October 2024: 18h30 – 20h00
Venue: HTA School of Culinary Art, 128 Bram Fischer Drive, Ferndale, Randburg
Number of Finalists: 7 per category | Number of Judges: 6
Now in its ninth year, the HTA School of Culinary Art Legacy Competition continues to inspire and challenge young chefs, providing a platform for them to showcase their skills, creativity, and knowledge of the latest culinary trends. This prestigious competition allows second-year students to test their abilities against real-world challenges, honing the expertise needed for their future careers in the culinary industry.
A notable addition to the event, Legacy: The Beginning, was introduced in 2022 for first-year students, giving them an early opportunity to develop the resilience and adaptability required for culinary competitions.
Seven second-year students were selected through a rigorous trial process to participate in the Legacy competition:
- Asanda Dube
- Henry Haden
- Lealtro Valentine
- Michael Duke
- Nthato Makhetha
- Sahil Singh
- Travis Hendricks
The seven finalists for Legacy: The Beginning, drawn from the first-year student body, were:
- Atiya Laher
- Ewald Janse van Rensburg
- Kasey Michael
- Kgothatso Mathabe
- Lavine Andrews
- Margaux Hollard-Williams
- Molly Read
The primary goal of the competition, beyond fostering a spirit of fun and education, is to expose students – the future leaders of the culinary industry – to a variety of premium ingredients and encourage their application in crafting high-quality dishes.
The awards ceremony, held on the evening of 5 October 2024, was attended by approximately 80 influential members of the hospitality industry, as well as family members and sponsors.
Selection of Finalists for the Legacy competition
The finalists for the Legacy competition are full-time second-year students nearing the completion of their Culinary Arts Programme. Semi-finalists were chosen based on their overall performance over two years and their submitted entry dishes. After a competitive cook-off at HTA, the top seven were selected as finalists.
Judging Panel
The judging panel included World Chef Accredited Judges, Academy of Chefs Members, and distinguished Hospitality Industry Experts. HTA extends its gratitude to the following guest judges for their contributions:
- Chef Heinz Brunner (Head Judge)
- Chef Stuart McClarty (Judge Convenor)
- Mr. John de Canha
- Chef Trevor Chikaura
- Mr. Jurgen Klüpper
- Mr. Duane Riley
Awards Ceremony
Each finalist received a Legacy Competition Hamper, generously filled with prizes from the sponsors. The results of the competition were as follows:
- Legacy Winner: Nthato Makhetha
- 2nd Place: Lealtro Valentine
- 3rd Place: Sahil Singh
The winner of Legacy: The Beginning was Molly Read.
Additionally, the Victorinox & Sharp Edge Knife Proficiency Award was presented to Atiya Laher in recognition of her outstanding knife skills.
Outcome and Future Prospects
This year’s competition was a resounding success, providing much-needed positivity for the students and the broader culinary community. The event successfully highlighted the talents of emerging South African chefs, giving them a platform to test their skills and receive exposure to the industry.
HTA School of Culinary Art is proud to have solidified the Legacy Competition as a key event on the culinary calendar. We look forward to celebrating the competition’s tenth edition next year.
