ROBERTSONS TURNS
Commemorates with a cook- off challenge
One hundred years ago, one of the most authentic and original spices, Robertsons, was created. In the coming weeks, the campaign, headed by CA Sales in association with Unilever seeks to elevate and showcase the very best of Botswana’s rich traditional food.
Dubbed Botswana’s Best Traditional Chef, the participants of the recently launched competition are required to use any of the Robertson’s spices to transform their traditional dishes. Each team will comprise of four members and participating teams are required to submit their entries in the form of a video as they prepare their favourite traditional dish, using Robertsons herbs and spices. The short video showcasing the cooking process and the final presentation of the dish is entered into the competition. In the same video, they will introduce the team and explain why they deserve to be crowned Botswana’s best traditional Chef.
A panel of judges, including internationally acclaimed Chef Joseph Seeletso, will review the submissions and shortlist twenty dishes and teams who will compete at the Robertsons Food Festival. Each week, two teams will be unveiled. The top three teams will walk away with P25 000, P15 000, and P10 000.
Speaking during an interview, Pitso Mokgosi shares that the campaign is all about celebrating 100 years of Robertsons existence. He says that they have observed how consumers battle with various health issues, and that there is also an increase in cheap spices and herbs in the market. Hence, they are trying to actually promote their spices, and bring it back to its glory days. “We want to make people aware that Robertsons is still number one,” he says. He further says that they are using the opportunity of their big milestone to also market their spices.
According to the Marketing Executive, Bronwyn Mangera for CA Sales, Unilever wants to support tradition.
One thing about Botswana, she says, there are many talented Cooks in the community, but traditional recipes are scarce. “This is a very localised campaign. So, what we are asking people to do, is to ask them to bring traditional food to the same standard where it can compete internationally. We are asking them to give us really good presentations, and give us a modernised version of traditional dishes,” she explains. She further says that Robertson’s started in 1924, and that their whole concept was to produce a range of spices that elevated traditional dishes.
That was the whole original concept of 1924, and they are using that same concept in Botswana.
“This is purely a Botswana campaign, and is not happening anywhere else in the market,” she says.
Mokgosi points out that the reason why Robertson’s has been leading for these many years lies in the quality of ingredients that they use, and how they are sourced. “I want to believe that most of the spices that are now around were not there in 1924. Robertsons has been there for a long time. What makes it unique is the high- quality ingredients used. They have high stringent quality controls,” he says, noting that they source ingredients sustainably.
Mangera highlights that a lot of videos, including of participating teams will be posted in the lead up to the campaign, and thereafter. She further says that the most exciting development about the campaign, is that a digital cookbook will be created. “This is going to be a one of a kind in Botswana, where we will create a cookbook together with a write up of the creator of that recipe. Those people who win will do a write up about the four people who entered as well as their final recipe,” she says.
She further says that on the big day, there will have cook- off rounds, with the Top 20, eventually crowning the ultimate winner.