By Pinehas Nakaziko
WINDHOEK– The two days whining, dinning and feasting. This is what the Namibia Food And Wine Festival was all about. And indeed it lived to expectation with those privy to reflecting on it as having been splendid, exciting, mouth-watering and a very sociable occasion for all, especially foodies and music lovers.
The festival first started on Friday (April 4) with an exciting cooking competition dubbed the Plate of Namibia and hosted by Team Namibia crew. Eight cooks were finally in the grand cooking finale 22-year-old artist and event manager from Windhoek, Heidi Sudwischer, and self-employed, Jocelyn Fordred (42) from Brakwater, known as the ‘Green Team’ emerging the winners.
After a live cook-off show, the two winners each walked away with a package prize of N$ 10,000 each from Standard Bank Namibia, an all-inclusive stay for two at the Pelican Point Lodge (near Walvis Bay), a ‘meat & vegetable’ short course at the Polytechnic Hotel School and N$ 1,500 voucher from yuppiechef.com (now distributing to Namibia).
Contestants of the Plate of Namibia competition had to prepare authentic Namibian dishes with only Team Namibia ingredients. Lizette Foot, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Team Namibia re-iterated the purpose of the competition as incorporating more local ingredients in everyday food, not only to make a positive impact on Namibia’s food industry and economy, but also to create the country’s own identity.
During the first night of the festival, guests were treated to top-drawer entertainment by South African award-winning jazziest and Afro Pop songstress, Berita Gugulethu Khumalo, performing among others, her acclaimed song, Thandolwethu.
The event continued the next day, with a “hearty breakfast” by the Head Chef of the Nampower Convention Centre, Sheree Mettler, followed by the “art of fresh” by Am Weinberg Restaurant. The festival could not but reach a climax if not getting more fascinating with South African celebrity chef, Sibahle Mtongana, of Food Network Chanel demonstrating her “My Afro Fusion Cuisine”. Chef Mtongana was able to meet some of her fans, when audiences started to scream out her name loud and hugging her.
The Fu-Jazz and Heritage bands ended the festival and wooing both foodies and music lovers with their live performance.