“GAME OF CHEFS 2026” will be taking place at CTICC during the Africa Food Show, 10 to 12 June 2026.

The event will take place in the ECONOFOODS Competition Village and will be run according to WORLDCHEFS competition rules.

The winning team will go home with a cheque of R50,000.00, a floating trophy, four individual trophies to keep as well as the bragging rights for the year.

GAME OF CHEFS CHAMPION 2026

Team-Chefs will receive a Floating Trophy, Individual Trophies & Certificate

Competing teams will receive a cash reward of ZAR 50,000.00

FIRST RUNNER-UP

Team-Chefs will receive  a Certificate

Competing teams will receive a cash reward of ZAR 25,000.00

 

SECOND RUNNER-UP

Team-Chefs will receive a Certificate

Competing teams will receive a cash rewards of ZAR 15,000.00

BEST APPETIZER, MAIN COURSE AND DESSERT

Comes with and Certificate

BEST HYGIENE PRACTICE

Comes with Team Trophy, Certificate and cash reward of ZAR 5,000.00

Each competing team member will walk away with a hamper from ECONOFOODS and a certificate.

DOWNLOAD RULES

How it works

Team Composition:

  • Each competing team must comprise four (4) members. A chef team leader, two assistant chefs and a pastry chef. The chef team leader must be qualified as a sous chef or above. They need to be South African citizens or have permanent residence in South Africa. There is no limit on age and position for the assistants and pastry chef. The chef team leader should have solid craftsmanship, creative, strong cooking skills, be well versed in multi cuisine and must be able to control, guide and lead the team. He / She is the key player and leader of his/her team.
  • The competition will consist of pantry cooking and mystery basket.
  • The teams will have to present a 3-course meal for 15 guests.

Competing teams will be given 150 minutes (2.5hrs) for – collecting ingredients from the ECONO FOODS pantry, menu writing, cooking and serving 15 sets of a 3-course menu, served individually. 1 set for display and photo shoot, 4 sets for podium professional WORLDCHEFS – SA Chefs judges and 10 sets for VIP guests.

Set Menu must include:

  • Warm or Cold Starter
  • Main Course
  • Dessert
  • The teams will have to make use of at least two ECONOFOODS products per course.
  • Each team member will walk away with a hamper from ECONOFOODS and a certificate.
  • The winning team will go home with a cheque of R 50 000.00, a floating trophy and four individual trophies and gold medals to keep as well as the bragging rights for the year.
  • For the team to be eligible to enter, all members have to be fully paid-up members in any category of SA Chefs – the South African Chefs Association.
  • Entries have to in by no later than 1st of June 2026 and sent to martin@chefmlk.com
  • The final eight teams will be contacted with cooking day and time by latest 7th June 2026
  • Results will be announced on 12th June around 15h30 at a cocktail event on the stand in the presence of the press.