The 2014 edition of Col’Cacchio’s Celebrity Chef Series kicks off this September with a throwback to the campaign’s beginnings. The series, which sees several top chefs create their own signature Col’Cacchio pizza, has been going since 2009, and this year three of the first chefs to take part return to make magic with dough and cheese.

Pizza at Colcacchio. Photo courtesy of Col’Cacchio.

First up is Mike Basset of Myoga at the Vineyard Hotel, whose pizza will be available at Col’Cacchio stores in the month of September. Inspired by the flavours of the American deep south, Mike’s pizza is made with a seasoned tomato and cream cheese base, and topped with southern fried chicken, homemade sweet chilli sauce, coriander, chimichurri and ruby slaw. Dubbed ‘The Redneck’, it will be available in Col’Cacchio stores across the country for R89 for the month of September.

Mike Basset of Myoga at the Vineyard Hotel. Photo courtesy of Col’Cacchio.

Jodi-Ann Pearton of The Food Design Agency and Rudi Liebenberg of Planet Restaurant at the Mount Nelson will follow in the celebrity chef line-up, presenting their pizzas in October and November.

Funds raised this year will go towards The Children’s Hospital Trust to benefit St. Josephs, a paediatric rehabilitation centre for chronically ill children.

The Celebrity Chef Series has raised over R1 million for charitable causes since its launch in 2009, through a donation of R5 from the sale of each celebrity chef pizza. The 2014 series is sponsored by Rialto Foods, Parmalat, The Food Store, Coca Cola, Place in the Sun Wines, Bos Ice Tea and Appletiser.