Showcook.com

02/06/2026

When two of SA's brightest pastry stars take their aprons to a French château... magic happens.

Ultimate Lancewood Pastry Chefs of the Year Cynthia Bombe (Inter-Hotel Challenge ~ SA 2025, Sun Time Square) and Anja Büchner (Cape Grace | Reaching for Young Stars 2025, CTIA Chefs Training & Innovation Academy) are currently living their best lives in Boussac with DeVerra Auret, cooking alongside Chef Jean-Jacques Tulleau and honestly? We're not even a little bit jealous. 😍 (Okay, maybe a little.)

From Cape Town and Joburg to La Creuzette this is what chasing dreams looks like. These two are not just representing themselves, they're carrying the whole SA pastry community with them. We could not be more proud. 🧡

A huge merci to our incredible partners who make journeys like this possible:
Watch this space, these chefs are just getting started. 👀✨

02/06/2026

A few moments from the Reaching For Young Stars 2026 competition ✨

Talent, passion, and plenty of memorable moments. Swipe through some of our highlights.

01/06/2026

Such excitement! Our nominees for the TAJ Cape Town Reaching for Young Stars have been announced and we are looking immensely forward to our Awards day which is happening at the stunning TAJ Cape Town on Thursday 11th June when all will be revealed! We anticipate a splendid day and know that whoever wins will do their schools proud.

Alannah Swales CTIA - Chefs Training & Innovation Academy
Aqeel Hoosain International Hotel School
Blayze Morris CTIA - Chefs Training & Innovation Academy
Bongokuhle Mkize Cape Town Hotel School Restaurant
Bueschke Hechter CTIA - Chefs Training & Innovation Academy
Caleb Kannemeyer Cape Town Hotel School Restaurant
Cassidy Slammat COOKtastic Hub
Chelsi Louw International Hotel School
Jessie Olivier CTIA - Chefs Training & Innovation Academy
Jenna van Niekerk International Hotel School
Josh Cronje International Hotel School
Kellies Chivandire COOKtastic Hub
Kubilay Karatas Superyacht Culinary Academy
Linamandla Bekwa Cape Town Hotel School Restaurant Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT)
Litha Boloti Cape Town Hotel School Restaurant Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT)
Luke Watkins Superyacht Culinary Academy
Safia Larnie COOKtastic Hub
Sennett Schultz Capsicum Culinary Studio
Tristan Lillienfeldt International Hotel School

01/06/2026

The 2026 Cook-Off and Service Presentation has come and gone and what a day it was. Our students showed up across every single category: hot chef, pastry, barista, beverage and service presentation. They gave everything they had and watching them perform was a beautiful reminder of exactly why this programme exists. We are incredibly proud of each and every one of them and we cannot wait to share what comes next. Highlights below. 🤍👨‍🍳

27/05/2026

25/05/2026

Ever wonder what competition day actually looks like behind the scenes? There are nerves, there is excitement, there is an incredible amount of support moving through those kitchens and hallways and if we are being honest, there is the occasional banter too. Swipe to get a glimps of the shenanigans behind the scenes on competition day.

18/05/2026

As always, the workshops at the Cape Town Hotel School with Avanti Coffee are hugely informative and help to guide our candidates along the right path. Here is a coffee workshop in progress and leading to the final Cook-Offs & Service Presentation, hosted at the International Hotel School on Saturday 23rd May!

Good Luck!

Abigail Willemse Capsicum Culinary Studio
Alannah Swales CTIA - Chefs Training & Innovation Academy
Aqeel Hoosain International Hotel School
Caleb Kannemeyer Cape Town Hotel School Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT)
Lehana van der Merwe (Emeris)
Luke Watkins (Superyacht Culinary Academy)
Masande Mfuku (The Silo Internship Programme)
Ralph Masawari (Cooktastic)

18/05/2026

One of the things we are most intentional about at Showcook is making sure that every student who walks through this programme experiences the very best the industry has to offer. The best produce, best equipment, the best expertise, the best environments to learn and grow in. We can only teach excellence when we are surrounded by it. Which is why our brand partners and sponsors are such a fundamental part of how we do it. To every partner who has chosen to pour into this programme with us, thank you. You are shaping careers and you may not even know it yet.