Namibian chefs to cook up a storm in Kolkata

    - 2023-02-15 15:51:00
Four young Namibian chefs will soon be travelling to India, where they will take part in the World Food Competition taking place from 21 to 24 February at the Guru Nanak Institute of Hotel Management (GNIHM) in Kolkata.
The students selected to participate are Pieter Bezuidenhout, Chandru Basson and Lize van der Merwe of the Purple Fig Cooking School, and Anne-Sophie Evrard from NUST
They will be accompanied by Roelien de Lange of Purple Fig and Kutemba Tshirukenina from NUST.
Pieter Bezuidnhout (22) is currently studying towards a Diploma in Culinary Arts and is busy with his pastry course.
“After I graduate, I would like to become a driving force in the food industry in Namibia. I'd like to develop my skills and my love for cooking and be an inspiration to future young chefs. For me, it is important when people taste my food they fall in love with Namibian cuisine.”
21-year old Chandru Basson will partake in the Culinary and Cake Icing competitions. “After I graduate, my goal is to explore the world learning about different and unique cuisine. It has always been a dream of mine to improve different techniques. I have always had a love of cooking even at a young age. The more I continue on the path I'm on, the more I fall in love with the culinary arts.”
For 21-year old Lize van der Merwe who is currently doing a Certificate in Kitchen Management at Purple Fig Cooking School, graduating is a means of gaining knowledge on how to run a symbiosis of culinary inspirations paired with hospitality genius. “I would like to continue pushing forward in creating and taking on opportunities. I would also love to, one day, work in a Michelin Star restaurant. I would love to truly capture the artistic side of my food expressions.”
Finally, 24-year-old Anne-Sophie Evrard is participating in the international student chef competition. “I’m studying Culinary Arts with the ultimate goal to become a pastry chef and open my own confectioner’s bakery and eventually incorporate marketing into what I'm doing.”