The time trial cook-off came after weeks of coaching and mentoring of the finalists by five of South Africa's master chefs from top establishments, who shared their personal tips and secrets on the mastery of time in a professional kitchen. His mentor was Dion Vengatass (sous chef, Mount Nelson Hotel).
His winning courses were:
The competition was specifically designed for young chefs to give them an opportunity to gain experience in coping with the severe time constraints that every professional kitchen faces.
Says Michel Mellis, MD of Unilever Food Solutions in South Africa, "Our mandate has always been to help professional chefs save time in the kitchen, without compromising on taste and quality of the meals they prepare and while also running profitable operations. With this competition, we aimed to help some of our younger chefs learn the time-saving tips and secrets that five of South Africa's prominent chefs have gained through their extensive experience over the years.
"Buckley showed remarkable composure throughout the time trial mystery basket cook-off, as well as a flair for flavours and textures in the dish he prepared and a clear understanding of how to plan and manage time under pressure. We also congratulate his mentor, Vengatass. While all the contestants were very impressive, we believe the first place was well-earned by this dedicated young chef."
The other finalists and their mentor chefs were:
