Chefs for By Invitation Only competition announced

Sharmaine Dixon

George Georgiou

Competitors

Of the five competitors, four were selected for their reputations and contribution to the industry, and all have a minimum of five years' experience. The fifth competitor achieves a place in the competition by virtue of having won the Senior category of the Unilever Food Solutions Chef of the Year in the previous year.

Dion Vengatass and Heidi Heckman

Craig Cormack

• Sharmaine Dixon, head chef at the 1000 Hills Chef School in Durban;
  
• Dion Vengatass from the Mount Nelson in Cape Town, who was automatically entered as he is the winner of the 2011 Unilever Chef of the Year competition;
  
• Mervyn Davies, owner of Sublime Catering in Durban;
  
• Craig Cormack, head chef at Sofia's at Morgenster in Cape Town;
  
• George Georgiou, executive chef at the Silverstar Casino.

On the day of the competition, the chefs are each given a mystery basket with access to a communal table of ingredients. Once they have decided on their starter, main course and dessert menu, the cook-off begins.

2012 judges

Bradley Kavanagh and Mervyn Davies

This year's judges include Stephen Billingham, SACA President and principal of HTA Culinary School; Nicholas Froneman, Southern Sun Elangeni; James Khoza, Sandton Sun Hotel and Sandton Convention Centre; Allister Essau, BOSASA; and Bradley Kavanaugh, Kitchen Judge from Unilever Food Solutions.

The winner will be announced at a gala awards ceremony and banquet on the evening of the day of the competition, following the judges' deliberation.