The Eat Out DStv Food Network Produce Awards celebrate outstanding, independent South African producers for their integrity, passion and innovation. Winners are those who deliver a consistently high quality product that is SA grown or developed using primary produce from SA. Due care and consideration for both the environment and workforce are essential criteria. In addition to small producers, we also recognize stores and markets for their vital role in the process.
The awards were established in 2007 and were previously known as the Eat In DStv Food Network Produce Awards.
How it works
Nominations are open to the public for a period of three months, and close in mid-January. Any small producer, outlet, market and blog can be nominated during this time. Nominations are now closed for the 2013 awards. The nominees are then contacted, and the whole array of produce is then judged by our team of experts during three intensive judging days in February.
Eat Out Festival
For the first time ever, the Eat Out DStv Food Network Produce Awards were accompanied by a two-day food festival this year
Taking place at the Biscuit Mill in Woodstock, Cape Town, on Friday 15 March and Saturday 16 March 2013, the Eat Out DStv Food Network Festival encompassed the Produce Awards, a night and day market, pop-up picnics, and market-to-table dinner, prepared by some of the country’s top chefs.
On Friday evening, the winners of Eat Out DStv Food Network Produce Awards were announced during a night market. Stands at the night market were run by this year’s finalists and winners, showcasing the best of South Africa’s fresh produce.
The pop-up picnic, sponsored by Knorr whatsfordinner, was the first of its kind, whereby well-known food personalties like Abigail Donnelly and Jenny Morris curated picnics, using only ingredients from the Produce Awards winners’ and finalists’ stands at the night market. Market-goers were able to buy a picnic hamper and shopping list, guiding them to buy ingredients for picnic recipes.
On Saturday, a special section of the Neighbourgoods Market was dedicated to the Eat Out DStv Food Network Produce Awards winners. On Saturday evening, some of South Africa’s top chefs got together to serve a unique interactive market-to-table dinner, sponsored by Woolworths. Five chefs each ran a pop-up kitchen, preparing dishes for the dinner based around the Produce Awards winners’ and nominees’ ingredients. On arrival, guests took part in the preparation of the dinner under the guidance of the chefs.
Judges
Anelde Greeff
Anelde has worked in the publishing industry for over 10 years. Her time has been divided between a variety of magazines in a variety of positions, most notably as features editor of Woolworths TASTE magazine and publisher and group editor of Edgars Club magazine. Currently, she is content director of Eat Out and W Magazine.
Abigail Donnelly
As group food editor of Woolworths TASTE magazine, editor of Eat Out magazine and chief judge of the Eat Out Restaurant Awards Abigail lives and breathes food. Previously Abigail was food editor at Fairlady, worked as the in-house chef at Milof Manor and ran her own coffee shop and catering company. Abigail’s accolades include winning the Galliova Award for Best Food Writer five times and being on the judging panel of the S. Pellegrino World’s Best Restaurants.
Anna Trapido
Anna trained as an anthropologist at King’s College Cambridge and as a chef at the Prue Leith College of Food and Wine. She uses both disciplines in her work. Her first book To the Banqueting House: African Cuisine, an Epic Journey won the Gold medal at the World Gourmand Cookbook Awards, Beijing 2006. Her best-selling food biography Hunger for Freedom: The Story of Food in the Life of Nelson Mandela won the Special Jury Prize at the same competition in 2008. She has recently collaborated with Nelson Mandela’s chef Xoliswa Ndoyiya on Ukutya Kwasekhaya: Tastes from Nelson Mandela’s kitchen.
Pete Goffe-Wood
Food alchemist Pete Goffe-Wood qualified at the well known Beverly Hills Hotel in Umhlanga Rocks before establishing himself as a chef, restaurateur, food critic, events organiser, author and TV personality. He hosts his popular series of no-nonsense Kitchen Cowboys workshops for men, and has been selected as one of the three judges in the first two seasons of MasterChef South Africa.
Jackie Cameron
Jackie Cameron’s heart is in KwaZulu-Natal. She was born and raised in the Midlands where, since 2002, she has filled the position of head chef at Hartford House, a five-star boutique hotel in rural Mooi River. She graduated from the Christina Martins School of Food and Wine and cut her teeth at Mount Grace Country House and Spa. Under her guidance the Hartford House restaurant has won numerous awards – including a spot in the Eat Out Top 10 four times. Jackie was voted by South African Tourism as one of the Top 10 Young South African Chefs, is a Chaîne des Rôtisseurs member, and is on the KwaZulu-Natal committee for the South African Chefs’ Association. As part of her endeavour to share her knowledge, Jackie writes a monthly column for The Witness newspaper.
Margot Janse
Since Margot joined the culinary team at Le Quartier Français in 1995 she has collected a string of accolades for the restaurant. The reigning Eat Out DStv Food Network Chef of the Year, the Dutch-born chef also achieved Top 10 spots 11 times in the Restaurant Awards, as well as positions in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants, sponsored by San Pellegrino eight times. She was the first chef in Africa to be crowned Relais & Chateux Grand Chef in 2007, and is known for her commitment to sourcing fabulous local produce for her African-inspired surprise menu served at The Tasting Room at Le Quartier Français.
Sponsors
DStv & Food Network, also sponsors of the 2013 Eat Out Restaurant Awards.
Food Network is available 24/7 to all DStv Premium and Compact subscribers on Channel 175 and offers a combination of credible cooking, new culinary ideas and high-energy entertainment to inspire foodies and non-foodies alike.
Winners
The winners of this year’s Eat Out DStv Food Network Produce Awards were announced on 15 March 2013 at a bustling food festival held at Woodstock’s Old Biscuit Mill.
Best small producer: grocery/condiments Karma Home Products
Top products: range of innovative marmalades
Best small producer: dairy (cheese) Pépé Charlot Cheese Maker
Top products: The crotin, heart-shaped Pépé and Buche Affinée
Best small producer: dairy (other) Gourmet Greek
Top products: traditional strained double thick Greek yoghurt
Best small producer: paddock (fresh) Greenfields
Top products: organic, free-range rib-eye on the bone
Best small producer: paddock (cured) Neil Jewell & Co.
Top products: Hand-crafted charcuterie: saucisson sec, squashed salami, cardamom salami and Walter ham
Best small producer: earth Magic Herbs
Top products: range of organic vegetables, fruit and herbs
Best bakery The Bread Gypsy
Top products: white sourdough, epibaguette, rye sourdough and ciabatta
