City Lodge and CSG Kitchen Academy Partner for a Culinary Cook-off
CITY LODGE HOTELS TEAMED UP WITH CSG KITCHEN ACADEMY FOR A COOK-OFF, BOOSTING SKILLS AND BUILDING STRONGER TEAM CONNECTIONS.
City Lodge Hotels joined forces with the CSG Kitchen Academy on September 12, 2024, to celebrate culinary skill development. The collaboration took place at CSG’s newly launched training kitchen in Pretoria, designed to enhance culinary expertise and foster team spirit.
The state-of-the-art facility features eight fully equipped kitchen stations, perfect for training, cooking demonstrations, and team-building activities. City Lodge Hotels made the most of this setup by hosting a friendly cook-off involving chefs, general managers, and trainees from its team.
A Competitive Feast Between City Lodge Hotels and CSG Kitchen Academy
In a fun twist, City Lodge Hotels paired trainees with their hotel managers to create an exciting cooking competition. Each team worked together to prepare a festive feast under the watchful eyes of judges and colleagues. The dishes prepared included:
- Roast beef with Yorkshire pudding and gravy
- Potato bake, green beans with onions, and roasted vegetables
- Penne Arrabiata
- Thai chicken green curry with basmati rice
Judges rated the dishes on taste, presentation, cooking techniques, and time management. After a heated contest, the winners were:
- First Place: Nonkululeko Nxele and Julius Von Richter from City Lodge Hotel at OR Tambo International Airport.
- Second Place: Amogelang Lebeloane and Zack Levendal from City Lodge Hotel Lynnwood.
- Third Place: Dumsani Dlamini and Dirco Botha from Courtyard Hotel Waterfall City.
The event fostered camaraderie as participants shared a meal and celebrated their culinary achievements. Trevor Boyd, General Manager of Food and Beverage Operations at City Lodge Hotels, praised the experience, calling it a “dream come true” and a groundbreaking moment for their learnership programs.
“This event is a glimpse into the future of our operations,” Boyd said. “It’s exciting to see our team learning, laughing, and enjoying this opportunity.”
Advancing Culinary Training
Lischen Gurovich, Group HR Manager at City Lodge Hotels, commended all participants for their enthusiasm and creativity. “Your talent in preparing and presenting these dishes impressed us all. We’re excited to see your skills grow even further,” she said.
CSG Kitchen Academy’s Managing Director, Marietjie Swanepoel, emphasized the academy’s role in shaping the future of the culinary industry. “This facility is a milestone in empowering individuals with the expertise needed to excel. We aim to offer diverse courses to upskill and reskill the workforce,” she said.
This partnership highlights the importance of collaboration in nurturing talent and promoting excellence in the hospitality sector. With its success, City Lodge Hotels and the CSG Kitchen Academy are paving the way for a brighter future in culinary training.
