Deena Naidoo (44) an IT specialist from Durban, won the 2011 Spekko Rice Cook Idols competition staged at the Good Food & Wine Show in Durban. Deena who is a passionate home cook, is beyond excited to win his first cooking competition, and at that, the coveted title of Spekko Cook Idols 2011! Judged by flamboyant BBC Chef Reza Mahammad, and supported by a cast of extended friends and family, Deena won the first round in the competition with an almond, coconut and cashew nut crusted Norwegian Salmon dish. The inspiration for this came from a visit he undertook to the Coconut Coast in India where he stayed in the city of Kerala. “I mixed the Indian love of nuts, coconut infusions and creamy tastes, with the fresh and crisp fish”. With his prize of R50 000, he hopes to spoil his wife with some jewellery. In the 2nd round Deena combined a list of 12 ingredients set by the judges into a Chicken Roulade served with Lentil Rice. In the final round chicken again made its appearance in his dish, but this time combined with prawns in another “Kerala” inspired creamy sauce. Deena, a cricket fan, is a keen fisherman and handyman.

He is married to Kathy and has two children Aarya (9) and Theslin (14). He also lives with his stepson, Navesh (22). 2nd place in the competition went to Jenette Kemp (58), with her Apricot Rice Pudding served with Almond Praline. Jenette plans to build a cake design studio at home in Durban with her R10 000 prize. After her divorce, she took up cooking seriously and has just completed a course at a local cooking school. The 3rd prize was won by Elanza van der Mescht (32), another “home chef”, who is a medical representative from Glenwood. She made some innovative rice pancakes, served with homemade lemon curd and dished up with fresh cream and berries. The 4th place was won by Nokuthula Brenda Mensah (47), a social caterer from Seaview, with her own family recipe – “Bree’s Spekko Rice and Kidney Mingle”. In this second tie-up with BBC Chef Reza Mahammad and The Good Food and Wine Show, the standard of entries for the Spekko Rice Cook Idols was exceptionally high.

The finalists and winners shared over R150 000 in cash and AMC Cookware in prizes, and attended a private dinner with Chef Reza at The Oyster Box in Umhlanga.

To see the rest of the finalists, click here.