It only comes around every four years, but with only a few days left to go, the tension and excitement is mounting as South Africa’s eight Food Olympians prepare to depart for Erfurt, Germany to participate in the Culinary Olympics. The International Exhibition of Culinary Art – or as it’s known in German, Internationale Kochkunst Ausstellung or IKA – is the biggest and most prestigious culinary exhibition in the world. With more than 50 countries expected to participate, each country is given only six hours to prepare a three-course meal which has to serve 110 people, all under the watchful eye of international judges from around the globe.

The driving force behind the establishment of the IKA was Matthias Carl Banzer, who at the turn of the last century, along with a group of visionary chefs, organised the first culinary competition between Germany and its neighbouring countries. Seen as the ideal platform to exchange various ideas and culinary techniques, the cooking exhibition was first held in 1900 and then intermittently, subject to the outbreak of both World Wars. It was only in 1956 that the World Culinary Olympics began in its new guise as we know it today – that year only 11 countries competed, fast forward to 2016 and that number has more than quadrupled.

South Africa first participated in 1980 and that year the team brought home five gold medals and won fourth place overall in the hot kitchen competition. With each participating year, South Africa has brought home an assortment of medals, and we expect this year to be no exception. The SA Food Olympians, also known as Culinary Team South Africa, a division of the South African Chef’s Association (SACA), unveiled their three-course menu last year. Practised to perfection, it begins with poached Cape Crayfish in a Malay curry sauce; followed by a main dish of pan-roasted loin of Springbok served with rolled veal sweetbreads and other vegetables; and ends with a selection of desserts including white chocolate and coconut mousse, as well as a rose gel sorbet.

Through it all, leading wholesale meat supplier N1, have proudly been an official Culinary Partner of SACA, supplying the Springbok, veal sweetbread and chicken for all those Hot Kitchen practices and promotional lunches and dinners. So from one highly-motivated team who always believe in delivering their best to another team of highly trained professionals: ‘best of luck South African Food Olympians and bring home the gold!’.