From Silverbacks to Silverchefs!
May 29, 18
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Competing chefs hard at work in the kitchens of the Kigali Marriott Hotel during the Gorilla Highlands Silverchef Competition 2018. PHOTO Vincent Mugaba

How far will you go for good food?

From Silverback Mountain Gorillas to Silverchefs – how food is helping put the Gorilla Highlands of southwestern Uganda, Rwanda and the DRC on the tourist map.

Gorilla Highlands Silverchef competition. Kigali Marriott Hotel with Odeke Steven
Odeke the journalist meets Odeke the chef
Gorilla Highlands Silverchef Competition Kigali 2018
Chief Judge Professor Wolfgang Thome announces the winners of Gorilla Highlands Silverchef Competition 2018 held in Kigali
Gorilla Highlands Silverchef Competition Kigali 2018

“You came all this way just to attend a cooking competition?”

After a month of living in the village on posho (maize porridge) and beans, little persuasion was needed to travel a day and a half to taste the creations of sixteen chefs and to enjoy the Kigali Marriott Hotel’s phenomenal breakfast!

How could I resist the lure of food (that I didn’t have to prepare), a stay in a top international hotel, the chance to learn more about hospitality (my first jobs were in hotels) and to network with tourism colleagues and media from across East Africa?  

Most importantly though, I was delighted to be invited to support the work of Gorilla Highlands (the brains behind the Silverchef Competition), creating positive stories about this ridiculously beautiful corner of the world.

Lake Bunyonyi viewed from Bushara Island
Lake Bunyonyi viewed from Bushara Island, southwestern Uganda, part of the Gorilla Highlands region

And so it was that I found myself traveling from my current home near Fort Portal to Kigali: by boda boda, matatu taxi, bus, private hire car, another matatu, bus (Jaguar Executive Coaches, comme d’habitude) and finally a moto (the Rwandese word for motorbike or boda boda) from Nyabugogo bus park in downtown Kigali.

What is the Silverchef Competition?

“In a spirit of friendly co-operation” sixteen chefs representing sixteen establishments from Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo congregated at the Kigali Marriott Hotel for Gorilla Highlands’ Silverchef Competition 2018.

Gorilla Highlands Silverchef Kigali Marriott
Behind the scene preparations at the Kigali Marriott Hotel. PHOTO Lorna Pasqua

Two shifts of eight chefs took over the four kitchens of the Marriott Hotel to prepare their dishes. Behind the scenes, the judges watched the chefs’ preparations. Each chef had the same ingredients (points were deducted for anyone who did not stick closely to the rules!) Chefs were judged not only for the taste of their food but the chefs’ presentation skills, their creativity and their time management skills.

sampling Silverchef Competition entries 2018
After the judges’ had sampled the chefs’ creations, it was our turn to try all the yummy dishes! PHOTO Panoractu

Talking about the competition, Miha Logar of Gorilla Highlands said “It’s good for chefs to get away from their own environment once in a while. They often lead a demanding lifestyle, far away from their family. We believe that events like this build a chef’s self-confidence. Having the chance to travel is a bit of an adventure, whether visiting a new country or a different part of their own country.”

“I see chefs as ambassadors” says Miha Logar. “They are a key part of a great tourism experience.” Pictured here: Chef Henry Wanyama with Katara Lodge’s Chef Catherine, the only female Silverchef entrant

Not only was 2018 memorable for being Silverchef’s inaugural event in Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo also joined the competition for the very first time. (Guess which lucky travel blogger has an invitation to Goma?)

“It’s been a big decision to work in the DRC and I’d like to thank all the stakeholders in the region who have given their input, suggestions and thoughts on this subject.” Will next year’s Silverchef find us in the DRC? We wait and see.

Silverchef Competition 2017, Birdnest Bunyonyi Resort, Uganda
Chefs from the Kigali Marriott and southwestern Uganda gathered for the Silverchef Competition 2017, held at Birdnest Bunyonyi Resort, Uganda

Previous editions of Silverchef have been held in Uganda: in Kisoro, Kabale and Lake Bunyonyi.

What is travel without good food?

Although at first glance the point of the Silverchef Competition is to win the prized silver chef’s hat, the event is part of a bigger strategic initiative. At the heart of the Gorilla Highlands’ philosophy is the belief that tourism can be a major tool for development. Tourism creates much-needed jobs and opportunities to train. With little local industry or manufacturing, tourism is the best bet for bringing revenue. Financial investment is important, but training, opportunity, innovation and self-confidence are also crucial.

Chefs bring their supporters and managers to Silverchef. Some hotel managers travel to the event looking for new staff. For lodge staff, tour operators and the wider tourism industry, the weekend of the annual Gorilla Highlands Silverchef Competition is a chance to interact, network and learn – about cooking, regional tourism and hospitality, and what tourism in the region needs to develop and flourish.

Silverchef 2018 judges, Kigali Marriott Hotel
Silverchef 2018 judges, Kigali Marriott Hotel

This year’s Silverchef judges were (from left): last year’s Silverchef winner Allan Mukasa, Sylvia Kalembe of Uganda Tourism Board, Chief Judge Professor Wolfgang Thome, Yves K. Ngenzi of Rwanda Development Board and Andre Ngoja-Ngoja from HORECA the Association for Hoteliers, Restaurants and Cafes in North Lake Kivu, DRC. The incomparable compere was Nash Barrett, Co-Founder SafeMotos.

all-day hike Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Gorilla Highlands
An all-day hike with Gorilla Highlands three years ago took us across Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. We started in Buhoma and ended in Nkuringo – pure magic from start to finish!

What is Gorilla Highlands?

Many tourists come to this area of East Africa because of the gorillas, but there is so much more to explore in the region: hiking volcanoes, staying the night in a community homestay, experiencing one of the region’s cultures and eating good food of course!

So who were the winners of Gorilla Highlands’ Silverchef 2018?

According to Miha, “in our book, all the competing chefs are winners. They’ve committed to taking part in the competition and we are grateful for that.” That said, here’s the list of Quality Cooking Certificate winners:

  • Chef “Rama” Ramadhan Sindayigaya, Marriott, Kigali (Rwanda) – Gorilla Highlands Silverchef 2018 and best Rwandese chef.
  • Mukungu Akimu, Grand Legacy Hotel, Jinja (Uganda) – best Ugandan chef
  • Manishimwe Jean Bosco, Lake Kivu Serena Hotel, Gisenyi (Rwanda)
  • Musasa Marcellin Tshite, Virunga Lodge, Volcanoes National Park (Rwanda)
  • Odeke Silver, Cephas Inn, Kabale (Uganda)
  • Jean Bosco Birindwa, Ihusi Hotel, Goma (DR Congo) – best Congolese chef
  • Otim Amos, Protea Hotel, Kampala (Uganda)
  • Emmanuel Murwanashyaka, ParkInn by Radisson, Kigali (Rwanda)
  • Sam Mbabazi, Bunyonyi Overland Resort, Kabale (Uganda)
  • Paul Mulyampiti, BirdNest Resort – Lake Bunyonyi (Uganda)

The best Rwandan chef also received a prize from Rwanda Development Board: a trip to Volcanoes National Park to track the gorillas! The winning chef from Uganda won a trip to track the gorillas in Uganda, courtesy of the Uganda Tourism Board and Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Visit the Gorilla Highlands web site to learn more about travel in southwestern Uganda, Rwanda and the DR Congo.

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6 thoughts on “From Silverbacks to Silverchefs!”

  1. Ruchi says:

    Wow! I can’t believe you went through all those modes of transportation to get to the event!

    It’s so good to see that chefs in East Africa are honoured in this way with a competition. It’s a great initiative by the Marriot. All the photos look lovely and yum! 🙂

    1. the muzungu says:

      Yes well, the food at the end of that mammoth journey was certainly worth it 😉

  2. Coral says:

    Dear Muzungu
    You lead such a varied lifestyle. I’m glad you have some luxury sometimes after travelling on those local buses.
    I think you are quite an unusual person. Which part of your life do you like best?

    1. the muzungu says:

      Hi Coral, thanks for dropping by 🙂
      If you’re writing and advising on travel, I think it’s important to try all different ways to travel. Bus travel can be tiring but they always bring the BEST travel stories!
      I like your question! I love travel of course, and I love planning my trips… but I think the best part is writing about my experiences. Although that’s ‘the real work’ it’s also the most rewarding as I get to relive everything over and over again…
      My life swings between crazy Kampala and life upcountry – and miscellaneous travels in between. I’m currently living in a thatched wooden cottage on the edge of Kibale Forest. We often hear elephants at night… hear chimps almost every day… and no bodas!
      Do you travel?

  3. Charlotte says:

    Hello from Musanze where I have been promoting Gorilla Highlands Silverchef 2019! The event was a huge success.

    This year’s winner is Charles Kyomuhendo from Volcanoes Safaris’ Mount Gahinga Lodge . The 2019 Silverchef event was held at Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel in Musanze. The hotel did a fantastic job of looking after the guest judges, media and visiting friends from across the region.

    We were thrilled to have the irrepressible Jackie Lumbasi as our MC for the day.

    This year’s judges were:

    – Sandrine Isheja Butera, Rwanda, presenter on Kiss FM, Kigali: she brings in important experience as a judge, previously serving as the Miss Rwanda chief judge of 2018 and a panel member of the Ubuhanzi Art Rwanda talent search competition.

    – Paul “Pablo” Ryckaert, Belgium, founder of BirdNest Resort, Lake Bunyonyi: as the brain and the quality assurance behind one of the best kitchens of the Gorilla Highlands region, his outspoken honest contributions have been of critical importance.

    – Andrea Miller, USA, teacher and co-founder of Virunga Valley Academy in Musanze: an excellent cook herself, she is honoured to be part of an event that uplifts the chefs of the region.

    – Judith Heard, Uganda/Rwanda, businesswoman and philanthropist: a daughter of a Rwandan father and Ugandan mother she represents the connectedness of our region and loves to utilise her social media platforms to share positive stories from our part of Africa.

    – Claude Bigayimpunzi, Burundi, executive chef: a graduate of the Cordon Bleu Culinary Institute of Dallas, Texas, he currently helps hotels and restaurants in Rwanda as a consultant.

    – Surprise guest! Chef Malonga from DR. Congo, the modern soul of African cuisine, nominee @Forbes under 30. He is celebrated in Europe and throughout the African Continent. Founder of Chefsinafrica as seen in The New York Times, CNN and BBC. Check his incredible work here http://www.dieuveilmalonga.com

  4. the muzungu says:

    With the pandemic firmly behind us, Silverchef is set to resume in 2024.

    The Gorilla Highlands Experts team are now busy planning the event!

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