Quick: what’s the first thing you think about when you hear MasterChef SA?
Mouth-watering culinary creations, right?
Well, that’s certainly was at the top of my mind when I eagerly accepted an invitation to the wrap party of the show.
Ha! But more on that later.
The party got off to a roaring start with the overly excitable MasterChef contestants milking the spotlight for all it was worth – laughing, hugging, flitting from one table to the next, posing for pictures and generally having a rowdy good time.
Well, most of them anyway.
Second runner-up Manisha Naidu came across as a bit of a sourpuss and seemed to prefer the outside to the noisy MondoVino restaurant in Montecasino where the festivities were being held.
I bumped into winner Deena Naidoo’s wife, Kathy, in the bathroom and she gushed about how their 10-year-old daughter Aarya had insisted on giving her mum a funky nail make-over.
But I was surprised when Naidu came in, fluffed her hair in front of the mirror and left without even so much as eye contact or a pretend smile.
Sorry darling, that’s just not cool – not even if you’d greeted someone earlier in the evening.
One person who was in his element was MasterChef judge Benny Masekwameng, who grinned his way through the evening.
Fellow judge Pete Goffe-Wood was a little less extroverted, while Andrew Atkinson missed most of the proceedings because he was running late.
Actually, I don’t remember seeing him at all.
Now for the food.
The cold starter – a tower of eggplant, barley (I think) and avo – didn’t make much of an impression.
I heard some grumblings regarding the main course of chicken ballotine, but it was eaten because I suspect people were more hungry than they were enticed.
But the trio of hot desserts, including berry bread pudding, kind of saved the night.
Oh, and shame on Nederburg for serving Baronne at the event.
As the main sponsor of the such a big-budget show, it could – and should – have done better!
