Visitors to the upcoming SA Cheese Festival will enjoy sampling a diverse selection of fromage favourites, as well as cooking demos, entertainment and shopping at the market.

The following chefs and celebrities will be presenting the Welmoed demo in the Cooking Pot:

 Friday 24 April: Craig Cormack

Saturday 25 April: Minki Visser +chef Ricardo from The Library

Sunday 26 April: Pete Goffe-Wood

Monday 27 April: Craig Cormack

Craig Cormack career profile
Award winning chef working at 5 star properties in South Africa, did his 3 year apprenticeship with Southern Sun hotels, during this time he had the honour of cooking for Queen Elizabeth 11, in Zimbabwe followed by stints locally at Victoria and Alfred Hotel, The Bay Hotel, running of Hotel kitchen’s as Executive chef at Ellerman House, Cape Grace Hotel where he was part of the team that won the coveted award of Best Hotel in the World 2000. He was invited to join the Chaine des Rotisseurs a prestigious society as Maitre Rotisseur. Then lastly he worked as Executive chef, at the Village Hotel on Spier Wine Estate.
Experience abroad:  He worked the summer on the Greek Island of Santorini, a six month stint at Millerhowe, a Boutique Luxury Hotel, United Kingdom under master chef John Tovey. He also spent a 3 month  food sabbatical in Australia and New Zealand. Craig has represented South Africa in two overseas food promotions in Mauritius and Turkey. Chairman for the South African Chefs Association, Western Cape in 2005/2006.

Biography: Minki Visser (nee van der Westhuizen)

Born in Cape Town on 26 February 1984, Minki van der Westhuizen has become one of the hottest international models South Africa has to offer. Self described as happy go lucky, Minki catapulted into the international modelling world at just 16 years old.

It wasn’t long before an agent from Max Models spotted her, signed her up and the campaigns came flooding in. Her biggest break came in her Matric year when Guess? booked her for their international campaign. Her shoot with SA Sports Illustrated Swimwear Edition came soon afterwards. After matriculating from Stellenberg High School in 2002, Minki decided to give modelling a shot for one year. Working off the success of the Guess? campaign and Sports Illustrated shoot she soon found that her future was paved with opportunities, both locally and abroad. Minki has completed shoots for some of the hottest glossy magazines including Elle, GQ, Cosmopolitan, Glamour and Bravo and she has also been voted the Sexiest Woman in South Africa by FHM readers. In addition she has won many awards voted by the public and has a dedicated fan base in South Africa as well as internationally.

She says of all the shoots she’s done over the past five years, her personal highlight are both the Guess? and Sports Illustrated shoots and she says the best part of her job has been the traveling. Besides modelling, Minki says she’s also always had a passion for television. The producers of Pasella approached her about a position for a presenter and she accepted it with open arms. “As much as I’ve enjoyed modelling, you can only do it for so long and I’ve done everything I’ve wanted to do in the modelling industry so when this opportunity came along I couldn’t say no.”

Pete Goffe-Wood career profile
Pete played a key role in the renewal of Blues Restaurant and is the author of its newly launched book Blues – Essence of Cape Town, re-affirming the legendary status of this Camps Bay landmark. He is currently involved in developing 95 Keerom Street for Rhodes House, and is working with the Meikles Hotel group in Harare and Victoria Falls. His recent culinary projects include Cape Town Chilli Fiesta, Nederburg Fashion Week, Marimba Restaurant, Winchester Mansions in Sea Point, Sérénité Wellness Constantia, the Nose Wine Bar in De Waterkant, Fancourt in George, Killimanjaro in Johannesburg and the Oasis Restaurant Group in the Sultanate of Oman. Between makeovers of great eateries and creating daring new menus, Pete actively works to build respect for his profession as chairperson of the Western Cape Chapter of the South African Chefs Association and lecturing in Operational Management at the Institute of Culinary Arts in Stellenbosch. Whether Pete wears his chef’s jacket, shares in the conviviality and pleasures of food and wine as a dedicated Slow Food supporter, or writes on the topic as food editor for GQ and monthly columnist for Hospitality magazine, his energetic creative approach and insight into industry issues earned him the respect of his peers.

Tickets can be purchased prior to the festival only at Computicket or Checkers. Cost is R110 for Saturday and Sunday, R85 for Friday and Monday. Reduced rates for children and seniors.

For more details visit: cheesefestival.co.za