Do you think you have what it takes to whip up winning dishes under the scrutiny of South Africa’s leading culinary experts? If you can stand the heat in the kitchen, your journey begins today!

MasterChef South Africa, M-Net’s brand new cooking show, is on a country-wide search for South Africa’s most talented amateur chefs.

This popular entertainment show has wowed viewers in over 33 countries, helping amateur cooks to realise their food dreams, and now it’s your opportunity to become South Africa’s king or queen of the kitchen.

M-Net’s Channel Head Pierre Cloete says that the entry process has been made as efficient as possible: “The MasterChef series has proven to be so popular around the world and with M-Net viewers that we expect a lot of interest in the show. As such, we’ve tried to keep the entry process for wannabe contestants as easy as possible.

"We have introduced a simple pre-entry mechanism. All that contestants need to do is fill out their entry forms as accurately as possible, and wait for our notification with more details about auditions. This will allow them a fast-track through the registration process on their audition day. After that it’s purely down to the cooking!

"Auditions are open to the public who have not pre-entered on the day as well, but M-Net encourages contestants to pre-enter online if they would like to speed up their registration and audition process," Cloete adds. Online entries close on 14 November.

Contestants who would like to be fast-tracked on the day can enter online on www.mnet.co.za and follow the MasterChef SA links.

Once you submit your entry form you will receive SMS and email notification to confirm receipt of your entry. You will then be contacted again by the middle of November to confirm your audition date, venue, time and food specifications for your audition.

Every person who fills out an entry form will be registered for auditions. Alternatively one can complete the entry forms in YOU, Huisgenoot or Drum magazines and follow the instructions indicated in the magazine. 

MasterChef South Africa will be holding open auditions in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town this December at the following venues:

JOHANNESBURG: Saturday, 3 December at Monte Casino

CAPE TOWN: Saturday, 10 December at The Cullinan, Southern Sun Hotel

DURBAN: Saturday, 17 December at the Sun Coast Hotel and Casino

So how does the selection process work?

You will be asked to prepare a cold dish which will be tasted by a member of the MasterChef SA professional preliminary judging panel. There are certain requirements for the dish as stipulated below:

  • You must bring all products in an insulated cooler to maintain the cold chain.
  • Products not suitably chilled will result in the judges not tasting your dish; which could mean disqualification.
  • You must transport all food products in plastic containers. 
  • Glass containers will not be allowed in the competition area.
  • Present your dish on a plain white plate that you have brought with you.
  • NO actual cooking is allowed; the dish must be a cold dish.
  • All that is required of you is to plate the food on the dish and then present to the judges within the time limit given.

Based on this dish you will either progress further in the audition process or not. All preliminary judges are certified by the South African Chefs Association, and the show’s permanent panel of judges has yet to be announced. Contestants must also be able to make themselves available for possible call-back auditions the following day.

For more information about MasterChef South Africa and how to enter, visit www.mnet.co.za or the MasterChef SA Facebook page!