MILLICENT HUNGWE
MASVINGO- Rejoice Gundura who runs one of the best food outlets in the ancient city, Eland Restaurant, was adjudged the number one in the Community Chef category at the cookout competition held at Masvingo Poly recently.
On the first day, the provincial competitions featured students and professional chefs and the following day, 21 community chefs mainly restaurant owners around the province participated.
The Amai cook out competitions promote the preparation and preservations of cultural Zimbabwean traditional foods from starters, main course and desserts.
Speaking to The Midweek Watch Gundura said cooking has always been her passion and has never enrolled for any professional catering course although she doing very well in the cut throat competition industry.
She paid tribute to the organisers of the competitions especially the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority and the judges for recognizing her in born talent
, “It’s my hobby to cook since I left school in 2008, l didn’t go to school for cooking courses, but it’s really an in-born thing that I’m proud of.
“I’m happy that my dream is coming true through this Amai cookout competition as l can showcase my talent and l wish to go as far as I can, the sky is the limit for me and I would like to assure my customers that they have not seen the best out of me, more is coming,” she said
She said her passion for cooking resulted in her establishing a number of restaurants in Masvingo including the flagship, Eland Special in the CBD, Reflections Restaurant in the industrial sites and Rejo’s Kitchen where she offers traditional and western dishes.
Senior government officials and competition testers loved her hubvu, butternut and sweet potatoes meal starter.
She went on to prepare sadza rezviyo, muboora, matemba, road runner/free range chicken, mufushwa wenyevhe and fish as the main dish, which charmed the judges.
Dessert was prepared in a decorative way with cucumber and watermelon slices that attracted the adjudicating team.
“Regardless of my business l want to urge fellow women to learn to cook for our families as it is the secret behind every happy family, a happy family is a result of a hard working wife and being a loving mother to your family,” said the ever smiling entrepreneur.
For winning the provincial competitions Gundura qualified to compete in the national finals that have been slotted for 25 of May in Mutare.
