'Sample their food at your own risk'

17 September 2012 - 02:09 By ANDILE NDLOVU
subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now

For many, the sleepy town of Brakpan might be an enclave of mining families whose favourite drink is Klippies while they listen to Bomfunk MCs, but a couple of amateurs on the new season of Come Dine With Me SA will dispel that myth.

The new series, a local spin-off of the popular British cooking reality TV show, premieres next Monday with an odd foursome - Anne-Marie Pavkovich, Simphiwe Mtetwa, and Brakpan's pairing of Jo-Anne van Niekerk and Menelaos Hatziandreo.

A preview of the first episode will give viewers a good understanding of why the BBC was keen to bring the series back. For all the idiosyncrasies that set South African contestants apart, one thing the local version has in common with the British one is the number of incorrigible personalities discovered on the show.

Each episode has four contestants host a dinner party at their home where they are rated by fellow contestants for a chance to win the R5000 cash prize.

But these characters make for good TV, even if they are likely to exasperate viewers.

One contestant likely to do so is the pretentious Mtetwa, whose antagonistic personality sees him engage in a feisty battle with Pavkovich.

Mtetwa describes himself as an "androgyne extraordinaire" in the episode before adding: "I'm a very competitive b**ch. No, reverse that, I'm a very competitive princess."

He's almost as colourful as Pavkovich's home, which depicts her as a hoarder.

The BBC warns that "featured recipes are the property of Come Dine With Me contestants, and have NOT been tested".

  • Come Dine With Me SA will be screened on DStv's BBC Entertainment channel at 8pm.

MENUS

Anne-Marie Pavkovich, 54, a teacher from Johannesburg: Skaapstertjies with mini veggie pies (starter), mutton curry bunny chow with home-made bread and sambals (main), and melktert (dessert).

Menelaos Hatziandreo, 27, a Greek stockbroker:Dolmathes (vine leaf-wrapped rice), tzatziki keftethes (Greek meatballs) and Greek blue cheese salad (starter), kleftiko and kritharaki (slow-cooked lamb with Greek pasta) (main), and galaktoboureko (Greek milk tart in syrup).

Jo-Anne van Niekerk, 36, a financial manager from Brakpan: Cream of mussel soup, sticky oxtail in red wine and creme brulee.

Simphiwe Mtetwa, 33, an events manager from Mondeor: Terrine de foies de volaille (chicken liver pate), sirloin steak with vegetables, and peppermint and chocolate milk tart (which didn't set and ended up being ice cream).

subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now