Joao Fonseca – best known to most of his fans as J’Something – is better recognised for his catchy tunes and hypotonic moves as the lead singer of award-winning South African band Mi Casa. However, visitors to the Good Food & Wine Show in Durban at the end of the month, will be able to catch J’Something cooking up a storm in both the Celebrity Chefs Theatre (Friday, October 30 at 12.50) and the well.i.am kitchen (Saturday, October 31 at 12.20). He will also be doing a Q&A session at the SABC3 stand at the show on the Friday at 15.00.
In early October 2014, word of a J’Something cooking show made the rounds and the ‘aspiring chef’ and his team soon announced a much-anticipated Something’s Cooking TV series. The 13-episode season proved to be a resounding success reaching over two million viewers. Since the launch of J’s cooking show his brand has grown leaps and bounds and he recently hosted another cooking show, called What’s For Dinner, on SABC 3 that reached more than 10 million viewers. J’s food philosophy is simple: “It’s not necessarily about the cost, the complexity or the look but what’s in your heart when you are making the dish,” he says.
He has also become very involved with his own nutrition and has learnt to find a balance between good food and good health; his goal is to make food that is delicious yet healthy. So what will this muso/chef be cooking at the show in Durban?
“It’s a surprise,” he says, “but trust me it will be delicious and simple. It will be down to earth and – more than anything else – my demo will be the most fun out of all of them.”
J ‘Something will be joined by a host of international chefs, including Rick Stein, Brent Owens, Reza Mahammed and Renae Smith, as well as some of the best local chefs including Jenny Morris, Asha Maharaj, Executive Chef of Hartford House, Constantijn Hahndiek, Durban Curry author Erica Platter, Executive Chef of The Oyster Box, Hotel Kevin Joseph, Head Chef of the Sun Coast Towers Hotel, Sandren Govender, Sheila Somers, and Peter Ayub.
The Durban Good Food & Wine Show takes place from October 30 to November 1 at the Durban Exhibition Centre in association with Durban Tourism. There will be book signings with all the celebrity chefs at the show, along with Q&As and the Big Durban Curry Cook-Off.
Event Details
Dates: Friday October 30 to Sunday, November 1.
Venue: Durban Exhibition Centre, 11 Walnut Road, Durban
Hours: Friday, October 30, and Saturday, October 31, 10:00-21:00; Sunday, November 1, 10:00-18:00
Ticket Prices:
• Early Bird: R 80 (valid until end September 2015 online via Computicket)
• Adults: R 90 at the door
• Age 12-18: R 60
• Children under 12: Free
• Senior Citizens: R 60
• Purchase 10 or more tickets: R 80 each
• Wine Combo Ticket: R 115 (Includes show entry, wine tasting glass & 5 wine tasting vouchers)
Wine Tasting Prices:
• Wine Combo Ticket: R 115 (Includes show entry, wine tasting glass & 5 wine tasting vouchers)
• Wine Glass: R 30 (Includes GFWS glass to keep and 5 tasting vouchers)
• Additional Wine Vouchers: R 25 (1 booklet with 5 wine tasting vouchers)
Celebrity Chefs Theatre Prices:
• Local Chefs: R 75 (GFWS entry not included)
• Local Chefs early bird: R 50 (valid until end September 2015 online via Computicket – GFWS entry not included)
• International Chefs: R 100 (GFWS entry not included)
• International Chefs early bird: R 75 (valid until end September 2015 online via Computicket – GFWS entry not included)
• Kids under four who sit on laps: Free
Tickets: Available through Computicket (www.computicket.com) or at the door.