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South Africa and back

Published:Thursday | September 13, 2012 | 12:00 AM
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This giant fruit plate was created at the welcome reception in South Africa for the Jamaican chefs.
Chef Kevin Broderick shares a special moment with Jamaican High Commissioner to South Africa Norma Taylor Roberts. - Contributed
This Jamaican escoveitched fish served with a salsa martina was a hit in South Africa.
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Sheena Gayle, Gleaner Writer

Western Bureau:

The awe-inspiring culinary journey to South Africa by renowned Jamaica chef Kevin Broderick gave the food expert an unforgettable insight into the Motherland and its shear beauty.

"It was a life-changing experience," an enthused chef Broderick told Food. "Most of the food that is done there is similar to what we do in Jamaica so the reception towards us was great."

The Caribbean Culinary Network (CCN) founding member and renowned executive chef at the Spa Retreat Resort, Broderick and chef Anthony Miller of Caribbean Producers, took the flavours of Jamaica to South Africa as apart of the Jamaica 50 celebration by the continent.

He was the only Jamaica-born chef that represented Jamaica in Africa in August as the Jamaican High Commission in South Africa spearheaded a series of culinary activities during the month.

"It was an absolute honour to be able to represent my country on such an occasion. The Africans loved us and greeted us as their brother returning home so it was an enlightening experience that I hope other chefs will be able to experience in the future," noted Broderick.

The CCN chef has been in the culinary business for the past 25 years and has a wealth of local and international experience. He is a two time Chef of the Year awardee who has represented Jamaica twice in the Taste of the Caribbean competition in Florida, where he secured several medals.

He has also cooked for international actresses Angela Bassett and Whoopi Goldberg. He even made an appearance in the 1998 romance film How Stella Got Her Groove Back.

Broderick is a graduate of the Runaway Bay Heart Academy in St Ann, George Brown College in Canada, and Johnson and Wales University in the United States.

During his South Africa trip, he had the opportunity to visit Cape Town where they toured some of South Africa's renowned wine estates, did a local braai (barbeque) in the Gugulethu Township and visited historic Robben Island prison where Nelson Mandela spent 27 years.

"During the trip, we made special guest appearance on the semi-finals of Big Brother Africa reality TV show with South Africa celebratory master chef Benny Masekwameng. There we got a chance to treat the housemates to a Jamaican feast, something that was a major boost to my career as it was televised to an audience of 45 million viewers in 49 African countries."