SABC 3 has launched Top Chef SA, a local version of the well-known American reality TV series, Top Chef. The show is scheduled to start on SABC 3 on Tuesday, 12 July at 8pm. Well-established chefs or ‘cheftestants’ from around the country will compete in various culinary challenges. The launch event brought together foodies and celebs at the Top Chef Studio in Randburg.

Top Chef SA, produced by Urban Brew Studios, will follow the same international format as the original show. You can expect fast-paced ‘Quickfire Challenges’, nail-biting ‘Elimination Challenges’ and the dreaded ‘Judges’ Table’. In each episode one or more contestants are sent home by the judges.

Top Chef SA Judges 

Head judge on Top Chef SA will be Neill Anthony, a well-known TV personality and gastronomic guru. His extensive food knowledge and incredible cooking skills make him hot property in the kitchen. Also sitting at the ‘Judges’ Table’ is one of the country’s most exciting chefs, Lesego Semenya.  He made the M&G’s Top 200 Young South Africans list last year. Not only is he a social media sensation, but he’s a force to be reckoned with in the kitchen. He’s painfully honest when it comes to his culinary critiquing, an essential ingredients for a Top Chef judge.

Top Chef SA host

Lorna Maseko will host the new series. Urban Brew CEO, Trish Taylor says, “This dynamic presenter of Top Billing fame was absolutely the obvious choice to present the show. Her love for food, her refined palate, and her effortless elegance made her a perfect fit for Top Chef SA.”

Aisha Mohamed, Head of Bouquet at SABC 3 says “Top Chef South Africa is a first to market brand new offering to compliment SABC 3’s revised prime time schedule. The show provides a fast paced and very real look inside a professional kitchen and what it takes to be a ‘Top Chef’ which is a strong compliment to the high production value of the show.”

Click here to read more about Lorna Maseko-Lukhele in our Celeb on Tour series.