For the first time since its humble beginnings in 2009, the Global Pizza Challenge (GPC) has moved to Africa’s Big 7, the continent’s premier food and beverage show, where passionate independent chefs from across South Africa will compete for the chance to win a trophy, ZAR 15,000 in cash and a place in the international final at the end of the year. Competitors for the South African final will be chosen from those who enter their recipe online before the June 15 deadline, who will be invited to The Gallagher Centre in Johannesburg.

 

Passionate about pizza

 

Now the largest contest of its kind, the GPC was originally founded by chefs who loved pizza, says Executive Chef Martin Kobald, one of four judges at GPC Africa 2018. “The challenge was inaugurated in 2009 by a few professional chef friends with a passion for pizza,” he said. “With pizza growing in popularity all around the world at a staggering rate, the chefs wanted to create and develop an international platform for countries to showcase their pizza-making skills, cultural flavours and sheer culinary passion. Now we work with chefs’ associations from around the world.”

 

Martin is known to millions in South Africa from TV’s ‘Little Big Cook Off’, and is also well known internationally in his role as Vice President of the Worldchefs Association of Chefs (WACS), while he is also the Honorary Past President of the South African Chef’s Association (SACA).

 

Martin runs the GPC brand together with Jeff ‘the Chef’ Schueremans, top chef and fellow judge, who is former Vice President & Competition Director of SACA and has cooked for people including Nelson Mandela, U2 and South Africa’s Bafana Bafana world cup football team. Both are honorary members of SACA’s Academy of Chefs.

 

Highlight of the show

 

“We are very excited to be the new elected official host of the Global Pizza Challenge at Africa’s Big 7 and The Hotel Show – they make a great partnership and it is a privilege to welcome such esteemed chefs as judges and to offer the opportunity for our thousands of visitors to be part of it,” said Christine Davidson, Vice President Africa of dmg events, the show’s organiser.

 

The GPC will certainly be a highlight of Africa’s Big 7 2018, which runs from 24–26 June at The Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand, Johannesburg, and is part of Africa Hospitality Week 2018 alongside The Hotel Show Africa, which has served the hotel and restaurant industry around the world for 18 years, and iHost, a new hi-tech event for this year featuring the latest innovations and technology in food service catering back of house.

 

Find out more and enter the Global Pizza Challenge at http://globalpizzachallenge.com/events-2018/south-africa-2018/ 

 

Discover more about Africa’s Big 7 and Africa Hospitality Week 2018 at www.africahospitalityweek.com and www.africabig7.com