Celebrating Exceptional Culinary Talent: Graduation 2023

Another gala event at kzn Midlands’ culinary school

“Jackie Cameron School of Food & Wine hosted its seventh graduation and, with many of the ‘who’s who’ of the related industries in attendance, it was as grand and as fulfilling as previous events.”

Siba Mtongana - multi award-winning chef, restaurateur, cooking-show host and best-selling cookbook author - was guest of honour at this year’s graduation at Jackie Cameron School of Food & Wine. Mtongana, impressed with all she saw at the school, said she was “In awe of what you (Jackie Cameron) have built over such a short space of time”. She added that the ceremony was a “really beautiful and well-organised” affair.

The occasion was as memorable as the past six graduation ceremonies and will be fondly remembered by Annie Morrick, Marizen Smit and Ruvarashe Ethel, who were the school’s first, three-year graduates. It also highlighted the remarkable success of the 18-month graduates.

Morrick, the top third-year student, had the outstanding distinction of achieving a 95% aggregate. For this she was the recipient of a SousChef Sous Vide Machine. All three graduates were awarded an Oryx Gift Pack; a Weber Apron; a Weber Recipe Book; a Weber Trio of Sauces; Steelite Tasting Bowls; Homewood Boards; a Wonderbag; a Koo Hamper; Birkenstocks Professional Chef Shoes; Wusthof Knife Classic – white handle; and a Defy Multi-cooker.

All the school’s 18-month students - Kamohelo Mokhele, Khothatso Mathibe, Keilan Chetty, Lihle Mahambehlala, Lungelo Mbele, Michael Ellis, Olivia Malan, Samantha Conradie, Shriyan Basthdaw – each graduated with a Jackie Cameron School of Food & Wine Certificate of Graduation; a South African Chef’s Association Qualification; a Certificate of Graduation for Cake Icing; a WSET Level 2 Award in Wines; a City & Guilds Level 2 Diploma for Patisserie; City & Guilds Level 2 Diploma for Culinary Arts; Certificate of Completion in the Foundational Artisan Bread Course; SASSI (South African Sustainable Seafood Initiative) Training Certificate; Certificate of Training to Perform Basic Fire Fighting; Occupational Health & Safety Certificate; Rencor Intermediate First Aid Level 2; Geochem Hygiene Certificate of Merit. For their noteworthy achievements they were each the recipients of an Oryx Gift Pack; a Weber Apron; a Weber Recipe Book; a Weber Trio of Sauces; Steelite Tasting Bowls; Homewood Boards; a Wonderbag; Koo Gift Pack.

Samantha Conradie took the honours and was the Culinary Equipment Company Student of the Year. For this achievement she was awarded a Culinary Mycook Food Processor; a Weber Braai; and a Defy Panini Press.

Kgothatso Mathibe & Lungelo Mbele, shared runner-up position in the Student of the Year Award and were each awarded a Weber Kettle Braai and a Defy Panini Press.

Other awards went to:

Lungelo Mbele, the Elba Overall Top Practical Student of the Year, who was rewarded with an Elba Cooker.
Kamo Mokhele, who was runner-up in the practical segment of the Weber Six-Hour Exam.
Lihle Mahambehlala, the Defy Top Overall Pastry Student, who was awarded a Defy 90cm Range Cooker; Wüsthof Classic Ikon Knife; and a case of Millac Cream.
Kamo Mokhele, Defy’s Most influential Social Media Student, who was awarded a Defy Panini Press.
Shriyan Basthdaw, who was awarded a Defy Panini Press for being the Defy Most Dependable Student.
Keilan Chetty, who took the Defy Award for Most Persistent Student, was also awarded a Defy Panini Press.
Lihle Mahambehlala, who was the recipient of the Champagne Valley Best Student Baker Award from Graeme Taute.
Samantha Conradie and Kgothatso Mathibe, who tied for the top wine student award, and each received a Waterford Magnum Jem, Riedel wine glasses as well as a performance tasting set.
Lungelo Mbele – the high tea queen – who was presented a Defy Multi-cooker for top place in the Defy Best Pastry Practical for High Tea.
Michael Ellis, who went home with a Defy Multi-Cooker for being Pam Alty’s Top Cake Icing Student.
Samantha Conradie, who was awarded a Wüsthof Classic Knife and Lungelo Mbele who received a Weber for sharing top place in the final dinner practical.
Olivia Malan, who was the Defy & Wusthof Most Improved Student. For this accolade she was awarded a Wüsthof Roast Beef Slicer and a Defy Panini Press.
Shriyan Basthdaw, who took the Geochem Hygiene and Kitchen Management Award and received Brookdale Books and chemicals.

True to form and always appreciative of sponsors, Jackie Cameron was generous in her gratitude to all the supporters, highlighted in the text above. Elba has backed Jackie Cameron School of Food & Wine from its inception and Cameron expressed her appreciation of Ramola Makan, author and Elba cookery and appliance consultant, for her ongoing backing. “You really spoil my students,” she said.

“We went into a partnership with Defy two years ago and the company has provided us with a state-of-the-art pastry kitchen,” added Cameron. “This needs to be seen to be believed.”

She also thanked Koo of Tiger Brands that sponsored four students – and Reuben Riffel who helped make this happen.

In anticipated excitement the culinary industry awaits the next experience from Jackie Cameron School of Food & Wine.