MasterChef Australia judges Gary Mehigan, George Calombaris and Matt Preston will be appearing together for the first time in South Africa and it’s all in aid of a good cause. Also joining them will be MasterChef Australia 2014 winner Brent Owens.
The trio will host The Longest Dinner Table in aid of Stop Hunger Now Southern Africa, which takes place at Sandton City Shopping Centre on Wednesday, September 7, from 18h30 to 20h00.
Members of the public are invited to be part of the longest table – there is no charge – and assist in packing meals for homeless and hungry children.
The wildly popular MasterChef judges will mingle with packers, share their cooking secrets and give away spot prizes on an evening that offers a dinner table with a difference.
MasterChef Australia (the latest season is scheduled to return to South African television in December) first aired in 2009 and made the three hosts and judges global stars. All have visited South Africa at different times but are delighted to be sharing a platform together for this very worthy cause.
Also making an appearance is MasterChef Australia 2014 winner and author of the bestselling cook book Dig In. Owens is in South Africa filming a new food and adventure television series titled Brent Owens Unwrapped … South Africa for Oxyg3n Media.
Stop Hunger Now Southern Africa was established in Johannesburg in the same year as MasterChef Australia made its debut. Under the guidance of chief patron Graça Machel, it provides nutritious meals and life-saving aid to the country’s destitute and hungry children.
The meals are fully balanced (soy meal fortified with 23 essential minerals and vitamins, rice and a soup mix) and are specially formulated according to UNICEF standards to combat hunger and malnutrition. Each bag supports 10 children and requires only water and 30-40 minutes cooking time using electricity, gas or wood. The meals, which are packed by volunteers, can be stored for up to one year.
Says Calombaris: “As chefs, we have a role to play in focusing attention on world hunger and helping eradicate it. It’s not just about eating well but ensuring that everyone has enough to eat.”
