Since 2011, the company has been heavily involved in community upliftment initiative simply known as Nandos Shisa Nyama, loosely translated –informal braais, often near a butchery.
This week all the roads lead to the coastal Port Elizabeth,Walmer Township Shisa Nyama outlet, for the Nandos Shisa Nyama grand finale.
Last year’s winner Chilleks is the host.
Eleven contestants are vying for a whooping R250 000 cash, development training and mentoring skills to grow their businesses.
“This championship is about more than just slapping meat on a fire. We want to see the contestants show flair and that important griller’s intuition. We want to see something more than just cooking-by-numbers.
We are expecting big things from this year’s finalists, as all the final recipes have the potential to inspire future Nando’s sauce product lines,” says Thabang Butelezi Nando’s Groceries Marketing Manager.
Here are 2014 Shisa Nyamas contestants: Endaweni (Vosloorus, Gauteng), Joe’s Butchery (Alexandra, Gauteng), Phillip’s Place (Tembisa, Gauteng), Monateng Café (Sebokeng-Vaal, Gauteng), Msiza Butchery (Tsakane, Gauteng), Bahama Bar (KwaThema-Springs, Gauteng), Waterland (Polokwane, Limpopo), Industrial, maPhindi’s, Pulema (Daveyton, Gauteng) and the new kid on the block.
Each participant will have their own stand to showcase their grilling skills and recipes that have to incorporate one or more of the Nando’s Peri Peri Sauces. Judges will determine the winner based on; creativity, taste, presentation & how well the meat is cooked. This includes a blind tasting process.
Gauteng features six winners, and according to the organizers, they did invite other outlets nationally and some had other commitments that did not allow them to partake.
There are plans to widen the net much wider in 2015, but talks will only begin next month.
“There are plans in place to use the overall weekend event as a driver for more activities to come through the 2014 winner. A communications plan will be put together to support the winner and it will take varied approaches,” says Mpho Mothapo, from iPheladi Consulting -the organizer, when asked if the ‘naughtish’ or mocking Ad Nandos is known for, will be used.
Chillecks-to chill- is owned by a marketer Siyabulela Dandala from Walmer Township in PE.
The latter used the cash to establish his Shisa Nyama in 2011 with the help from Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC).
The juding panel is made up of Hilary Biller (Chef), Llewellyn Mateza (Chairman Meat Board) and Siphamandla Shabalala (Nando’s International Champion Griller 2013).
It is supported by Radio 2000, Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism, Bay TV, SAB and Garden Court-Kings Beach.
If you crave for Nandos breast or thigh chicken Peri Peri, then head to PE. Ahem…
