MARKUM Lewis, 46, who came in fifth at the annual Shoprite & Checkers Championship Boerewors Competition, says his journey is just beginning.
To win the competition, Lewis and other contestants battled it out at the “Braai in the Sky” where they impressed an independent judging panel of culinary experts from the South African Chefs Association (Saca), who were tasked with selecting this year’s number one boerewors at the grand finale.
The Amalinda SUPERSPAR butchery manager, who hails from Buffalo Flats, Egoli, was also crowned No 1 Number One in the Eastern Cape.
“It was an awesome experience and it felt good to be No 1 in the province as I thought I was only representing East London. The journey is just beginning but I won’t give up. I am looking forward to the next competition,” he said.
The father of two said he owed his success to the late Claude George, who helped harness his skills.
“He taught me all my butchery skills, as well as everything and all about how to make the boerewors. He showed me the ropes and sent me to a butchery school,” he said.
To celebrate his success in the competition, Lewis plans to have a big braai at his home with family and friends.
“Big thanks to the Natha family and my staff who were always supportive,” he said.
“That is part of why we are an award-winning store: we encourage creativity in our staff and Markum has brought in that with his personality, ” said Amalinda SUPERSPAR co-owner Harry Natha.
Yvonne Blaauw from Wellington in the Western Cape was announced the winner of the Championship Boerewors.
Lewis says he dreams of entering MasterChef as well as opening a butchery school for the underprivileged in the region.
