Sizzling into the top 10
East London’s own Markum Lewis, 46, has his eyes set on being crowned as South Africa’s boerewors champion at this year’s Shoprite Checkers Championship Boerewors competition.
This comes after the Amalinda SUPERSPAR butchery manager from Egoli, Buffalo Flats, made it through to the top 10 after entering the competition three months ago.
He said he had to make up his own recipe to enter.
“I have been in the butchery business for many years. This is my dream and by being part of this competition, I am chasing my dream.
“Being in the top 10 is an amazing feeling. I was very emotional when they called and told me I had made it through because this is my passion, it’s my dream and I could finally live it,” he said.
The father of two fell in love with cooking while still young and said he used to read recipes books as a child. This helped him gain confidence in experimenting with different recipes.
“I say to young people: always believe in your dreams and put God first because with him, all things are possible,” he said.
Lewis said he owed his success to his mentor, the late Claude George, who helped harness his skills.
“He taught me my butchery skills, as well as everything about how to make boerewors. He showed me the ropes and sent me to a butchery school,” he said.
Lewis dreams of entering MasterChef, as well as opening a butchery school for the underprivileged in the region.
According to the Shoprite Checkers Championship Boerewors competition website, prizes up for grabs include a brand new Toyota Hilux DC 2.8 GD-6 RB Raider worth more than R500,000.
Lewis leaves next week to defend his dream of being crowned South Africa’s boerewors champion at the grand finale, which will take place in Cape Town on Wednesday.