New Victory Foods wins best bunny chow in KwaZulu-Natal at Bunny Chow Barometer Challenge
The top three in this year's KZN Bunny Chow Barometer Challenge are Gregory Naidoo from BP Chatsworth, opposite the Chatsworth Stadium (third), the winners are New Victory Foods in Phoenix, represented by Vaneshree Govender, and Lorraine Singh from PnP Waterloo in second position
Image: Leon Lestrade/Independent Newspapers
In a show of culinary excellence, New Victory Foods from Phoenix was named the best bunny chow outlet in KwaZulu-Natal during the Bunny Chow Barometer Challenge, hosted at Blue Lagoon Beach on Saturday.
Sponsored by Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa (CCBSA), the annual competition showcased the rich heritage and tantalising flavours that defines Durban's beloved culinary icon: the bunny chow.
The event with deep community roots, pays homage to the innovators behind this traditional dish that has been a hallmark on the Durban food scene for generations.
There was no shortage of dedication and effort in creating the curried concoction from the 10 participating outlets that made Saturday's final.
Some of the prizes on offer were the R50,000 for the winning outlet, R30,000 for the second placed outlet and R20,000 for those in third place.
Vaneshree Govender, the owner of New Victory Foods, won the ultimate bragging rights, the province's finest bunny chow.
“We are happy to have won the competition.
The money will go a long way towards making our business more competitive and better,” Govender said.
Pnp Express Waterloo secured the second prize, with owner Loraine Singh appreciative of the effort put in by her team.
“We are grateful to the team we have; we cannot be any prouder than we are," said Singh, who already has aspirations of landing the top prize in 2026.
The third place went to Gregory Naidoo from Pnp Express Chatsworth, who embraced the experience with positivity.
“We are happy that we made it through; for us, this was about the fun and connecting with people.
"Our winnings will be donated to charity,” said Naidoo.
Judge Eric Apelgren emphasised the importance of "quality" in determining the ultimate winner.
“When we decide on the ultimate Bunny Chow winner, we look for a bunny that isn’t too soggy. It must be perfect, with nicely cooked potatoes and well-cooked meat.
The spices should not be overcooked, and there should be consistency. Most importantly, the condiments must complement the taste of the bunny,” Apelgren explained.
Richard Willington, the regional sales manager at CCBSA in KZN said "Meals go better with Coca-Cola. This initiative is a way of bonding with customers and giving back to the community.
We reward our loyal customers and help their businesses through publicity,” Willington said.
DAILY NEWS