A passion for the kitchen

It's no surprise that events co-ordinator Clint Singh rates the kitchen as his favourite spot at home, considering his recent win on a local reality cookery series.

Singh, who co-owns a business with his partner, Mark Govender, says he was "forced" by friends to enter Come Dine With Me on DStv's BBC channel, as they did not want his culinary talents to go to unrewarded.

The South African version of the show is modelled after the popular UK series, which features four people who show off their cooking and hosting skills.

Each contestant gets the opportunity to host a dinner party at their home. Then, at the end of the evening, they are judged by the other three.

The South African version of the show is also narrated by British voice-over artist David Lamb.

Govender and Singh, who plan weddings and parties as well as do hair and make-up for brides, live in Morningside, Durban.

Their home features striking colours in every room and unique artwork, including an Egyptian-themed bathroom.

Singh, 35, who prides himself on the themed dinner parties he hosts for friends and family, was pitted against three others from KwaZulu-Natal.

He emerged the winner, walking away with R10000. He described the experience as "hectic but amazing".

"The experience required me to work under a lot of pressure. It was an entire day of the crew being in your house from 10am until 1am the next day. But the experience was great and something I had not done before. It was a rare opportunity."

In preparing for the dinner, the food lover decided to entertain guests by hiring a belly dancer. Though he was scoffed at by some of his fellow contestants, it earned him points with others.

The dishes which contributed to Singh winning were a baked prawn starter, authentic fish biryani for mains and a saffron rice pudding for dessert.

A peek into Singh's unconventional yet welcoming kitchen confirms it's his favourite place. The black and white tiles give it a modern edge while the wallpaper depicting an Indian woman carrying a bucket on her head shows Singh's love for Indian artwork.

Another section of the wall is covered in Singh and Govender's old photographs, as well as certificates and awards from their school days.

But one of the most striking items is a large antique sideboard that has a stove fitted into it.

It has two hotplates and the drawers are where Singh keeps his spices and cooking utensils.

"I love going antique-shopping and I loved this sideboard. I also bought a TV cabinet which I now use for my microwave.

"I love my kitchen - it's my favourite place. I love to experiment with different food and create new things," he said.

The lounge is divided into two sections. The first features both Indian and British colonial designs, with lion heads on elegant couches.

The other section is the couple's "chill-out" room. Dubbed as the Buddha room, it is separated from the lounge by a colourful beaded curtain.

Inside are comfy sofas, a television and a hookah.

"I just love this room," said Singh.

"We come here to relax. We watch television or just indulge in some hubbly bubbly after a long day," he said.