Teacher ala Reuben
Reuben Riffel is helping culinary students turn their dreams into reality with his competition show ProeFessioneel.
ProeFessioneel Season 1 Wednesdays (from 26 July) SABC2 (*192) 19:00
Grab those chopping boards and get ready to dice! Twenty youngsters who’re studying to be chefs will be facing off in new reality cooking show ProeFessioneel (2017- current) to win R150 000 cash towards their studies. And leading them through challenges is pro chef Reuben Riffel, who is doing double duty as host and one of the judges. Here’s what the acclaimed chef has lined up for viewers and the contestants in his show…
What separates ProeFessioneel from other reality cooking shows? The wide choice of shows on TV has led to an increase in the younger generation getting into food. We’re going to give them a glimpse of what it’s like in a professional kitchen. Two student chefs will take part in each episode – they’re given a surprise basket of ingredients and must prepare a series of dishes that will complement a wine. My fellow guest judge and I will look at presentation and assess how it would fit into a restaurant. The winner will then progress to the next stage – and there are 10 episodes in total, so we will be working with 20 youngsters. Which other famous chefs will be popping up as judges? We’re still busy filming the series so we haven’t finalised everyone yet… but so far we have had Bertus Bas-son (from Ultimate Braai Master, 2012- current) and award-winning chef Chris Erasmus – he owns Foliage in Franschhoek in the Cape. Is there anything that you’re still trying to master in the kitchen? [Laughs] Definitely! Like dim sum [steamed dough that’s usually filled with veggies or pork]. I’ll get them right once, then not again for months. Most chefs have a simple guilty pleasure with food [Gordon Ramsay love shepherd’s pie] – what’s yours? Ice cream, lamb curry and pork neck. You always seem to be busy launching cookbooks and restaurants… [Laughs] I’m always on the move with ideas, especially for cookbooks! I’m busy with one right now – it’s going to focus on campers who’re out in the bundus.