Watch Watt's in the Pot? as smart energy cooks battle it out

10 September 2020

The City of Cape Town invites you to watch the six Watt's in the Pot? smart cooking competition finalists on Friday, 11 September 2020 battle it out for the grand prize and recognition of being Cape Town’s top smart cook. The City hosted the Watt's in the Pot? cook-off show as part of the Cape Town Future Energy Festival. The recorded event featured six local, amateur cooks and their delicious recipes from Cape cuisine, to French and Italian favourites, all done in an energy efficient way. Read more below:

To find out who of these contestants has been crowned the winner of the competition and received the grand prize, watch the full Watt’s in the Pot? cook-off show online on the Festival's digital platforms on Friday, 11 September 2020.

Watt’s in the Pot? is an innovative cooking competition which forms part of the virtual Cape Town Future Energy Festival. It showcases innovative and cost-effective household solutions for energy use and a more sustainable way of living. The competition features six chosen finalists who have used their cooking skills to compete against each other for a chance to be crowned the first Watt’s in the Pot? winner. Their recipes highlight the use of energy efficient cooking methods. Criteria considered for the winning recipes includes the use of energy efficiency, taste, ease of preparation and visual appeal.

The festival comprises a series of virtual events which are taking place to educate adults and children on how they can use energy efficiently and make sustainable choices at home through engaging activities, tips to help households save money and information about what our energy future may look like. It aims to create conversations inspired by climate change, energy efficiency, solar and wind power, water saving, waste reduction, smart transport and sustainable living.

‘Our energy future is of utmost importance especially considering the ongoing issues like load-shedding and the desire of households to reduce their energy costs. We saw how our collective efforts avoided catastrophe during the drought and once again we are calling on each and every one of you to get involved in our journey towards carbon neutrality by 2050.

‘We can start by making small changes in our lives such as using energy and water efficiently, and being aware of which appliances we choose to buy and use in our homes. The City has always recognised the need to be resilient and to encourage resilience from our residents too. I hope that our residents enjoy the show and can implement some of the learnings in their own homes too,' said the City’s Executive Mayor Alderman Dan Plato.

‘Energy is a significant expense for many households across the metro. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact on household budgets as well as the local and national economy, energy efficiency and cost cutting has become even more important than before.

‘These energy festival challenges are not only an opportunity for our residents to show off their creativity. They highlight the importance of greater resource efficiency, renewable technology, innovation, social inclusivity and energy security. Importantly, it shows how individuals and households can make small changes around their home for a more sustainable future,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Energy and Climate Change, Councillor Phindile Maxiti.

‘As we watch this cooking show, we are reminded that this is an opportunity for each one of us to shape our city’s future into one that is resilient, equitable and resource efficient. Our ambitious goals are only possible if every resident of Cape Town understands the role they play and the choices they can make in their own homes,' said the City’s Energy and Climate Change Portfolio Committee Chairperson, Councillor Zimkhitha Sulelo.

Chosen finalists include the following Cape Town residents:

Kurt Johnson, who prepared Joan’s tomato bredie
Chantal Martin prepared a Cape curry
Nandipha Motsa prepared osso bucco and risotto
Velma Mullins prepared mussel pasta
Nanziwe Mzuzu prepared spaghetti and meatballs
Juliette Pilaar prepared chicken roulade

This fun-filled initiative is the first event of the Cape Town Future Energy Festival and is a partnership between the City of Cape Town, Crown National’s Six Gun Grill and Instant Pot. The show boasted the following celebrity judges; Aden Thomas, Africa Melane and Liezl van der Westhuizen with Jarrad Rickets as the continuity presenter.

For more information, see these resources:
Future Energy Festival: www.capetownfutureenergyfestival.co.za
Save Electricity: www.savingelectricity.org.za
Smart Living Handbook: https://bit.ly/Smartliving2020

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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office