Abichaêl Sardine and Natisha Seethiah are the grand finalists of the “Les petits chefs en herbe” culinary competition. The semi-final took place at the Quartier des Serres in Labourdonnais, in Mapou, on Saturday 23 July.
The event, around bread, broadcast on the Facebook platforms of Defimedia and Radio Plus and the YouTube channel of Teleplus, was hotly contested. It was a real challenge for these budding little cooks. Abichaêl Sardine, 13, Natisha Seethiah, 12, Éva Lebon, 11, and Zeyd Issack, 10.
The semi-finalists of the contest competed in the sandwich event. They didn’t have to make a dish this time, but sandwiches in four different flavors. On a table, appliances for toasting bread were at their disposal.
The candidates had to prepare sandwiches that lived up to the expectations of the jury, made up of Renaud Azema, director of Vatel Business School, Angélique Armoorgum of the Mauritius Chefs Association and Sabeer Hookoomally, trainer and bakery technician at Moulins de la Concorde. Nine varieties of bread were available to the candidates. They had to make four different sandwiches. One based on fish or seafood, another based on chicken, a third vegetarian and a creation of their choice. The young chefs had ten minutes to stock up on ingredients and compose their sandwiches. Then, five minutes to develop their recipes and an hour to compose their sandwiches. “We will be more fussy, particularly on the hygiene and cleanliness of their workstations, waste and taste,” highlighted chef Angélique Armoorgum.
Some partners had set up their stand a little further away, so that participants could fill their shopping bags. Tastings were also offered by Eski, Quality Beverages Ltd, Subana and Convenience Food Ltd. Among them was Melissa Rosalie, Center and Commercial Coordinator, at Quartier des Serres. She was delighted that the Défi Média Group, Events Plus and Radio Plus had chosen the Quartier Des Serres for this first edition of the “Petits chefs en herbe”. “We hope to be able to meet Mauritians every year for the next editions. We are expecting as many people as possible for the grand finale on Saturday. Come encourage the finalists and take the opportunity to discover our unique boutiques. »
Air Austral, a competition partner, offers four plane tickets to the winner. “We are happy to promote young local talent. The winner will have the chance to visit Reunion Island with his parents. We are taking advantage of our presence to highlight the flights to Bangkok and Chennai,” points out Priscille Tuher, sales manager for Air Austral.
For an hour, the candidates prepared their sandwiches. Some chose bagels, others baguettes, still others the traditional “house bread” or sliced bread that they topped with marlin, chicken, salad, egg and cheese, among other things.
The allotted hour elapsed, the jury proceeded to the tasting. “Your bread takes us on a journey”, we can hear during one of the tastings. If some candidates convinced the jury with their sandwiches, this was not the case for all. When the verdict fell, it was Abichaël Sardine and Natisha Seethiah who had been chosen.
The grand finale will be broadcast on Wednesday August 3 at 8:35 p.m. on the Facebook pages of Defimedia.info and Radio Plus and the YouTube channel of Teleplus.
The competition is sponsored by: Panagora, Vatel Tourism & Business School, Thali Delights Ltd, Eski, Le Quartier des Serres, Air Austral, L’Atelier marmailles, La Réunion des Chefs, Les Moulins de la Concorde, Lesieur, Bokomo, Tara, Convenience Food Ltd, Subana, Pinguin, Kat Couvert Services, Neofoods, Les vergers de Labourdonnais, Shamal Travels, Quai D, Mauritius Glass Gallery, Habit and the Mauritius Chefs Association.
It is presented by Events Plus in collaboration with Panagora, Vatel Business School and Thali Delights Ltd and in partnership with Radio Plus, Télé Plus and Le Défi Media Group.
.
