Egos with knives at the sharp end

14 January 2015 - 02:05 By Andile Ndlovu
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KITCHEN NOT SO CONFIDENTIAL: The 'Celebrity Masterchef SA' lineup includes comedian Tol A$$ Mo, who will get hot under the collar competing in aid of a charity that gives aid to burn victims in Africa. The show premieres on M-Net on February.
KITCHEN NOT SO CONFIDENTIAL: The 'Celebrity Masterchef SA' lineup includes comedian Tol A$$ Mo, who will get hot under the collar competing in aid of a charity that gives aid to burn victims in Africa. The show premieres on M-Net on February.
Image: VUZU.DSTV.COM

The inaugural edition of Masterchef SA Celebrity will premiere on February 8, it has been revealed.

Four weeks ago, Roxi Wardman became the third consecutive Durbanite to win Masterchef SA in as many years.

Now it's the turn of the VIPs to show they know the difference between thyme and parsley, yams and sweet potatoes, and even different wine blends. (The series was shot at the Nederburg wine estate).

Singer Patricia Lewis will join model Lerato Moloi, photographer Merwelene van der Merwe, comedians Tol A$$ Mo, Terence Bridgett and Chris Forrest, and radio and TV presenters Lorna Maseko, Sade Giliberti, Lunga Shabalala and Alex Jay.

But with 10 celebrity egos in a high-stakes scenario - they're playing to win money for a charity of their choice - and a hot kitchen, will they crumble?

Tol A$$ Mo, real name Mongezi Ngcobondwane, suggested that while the rest were as busy as popcorn on a skillet, he found it all a cakewalk.

He said yesterday: "The others knew all these fancy cuisines and I'm just a kasi boy. I don't know how to measure food - all I know is pap n vleis.

"It was all new to me, but I am always chilled. Even when the pressure is hectic, I always find time for a joke or two."

Of course, he wouldn't reveal who triumphed, but he teased that he won a good chunk of money for his chosen charity, Children of Fire, which has offices in London and Johannesburg and helps young survivors of burn injuries in Africa.

Tol A$$ admitted he was "surprised" by Forrest's culinary skills, especially after he had "pretended" not to know much.

Giliberti said on her Instagram page yesterday: "Celebrity Masterchef was daunting but mind-blowing and so educational, never mind the fantastic celebrities I got to hang out with and get to know on a personal level."

  • 'Masterchef SA Celebrity' premieres on February 8 at 6pm on M-Net (DStv 101)
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