Finding the Taste of Knysna

KNYSNA NEWS - Eagle-eyed surveyors of this year's Knysna Oyster Festival programme may have noticed that a past staple of the festival was missing - Flavours of Knysna. But, they needed not fret, as The Flavour Lab and The Knysna Experience ensured this gap was filled by a new oyster-tasting competition, Taste of Knysna.

In the past, the Flavours of Knysna event was a competition where local restaurateurs and chefs vied to be named the best oyster chef in Knysna by preparing oysters in their own unique and special way to be tasted and judged.

However, since the withdrawal of a title sponsor for the festival, Flavours of Knysna was no longer a part of the programme.

Therefore, for this year's Knysna Oyster Festival, The Flavour Lab and The Knysna Experience joined forces to host their own oyster-tasting competition, Taste of Knysna, on Wednesday 6 July at The Knysna Experience on Thesens Island.

Organisers and hosts opened the door for local restaurateurs to prepare their best take on the famous Knysna oyster and present it for tasting and judging on the night.

There were seven participants - The Runner Chef, The Painted Cakes, The Flavour Lab, Blend Country Restaurant, The Knysna Experience, Usatsho Tshisanyama & Catering, and The Shakers and The Bakers. A packed house at The Knysna Experience waited with bated breath as the oysters were presented last Wednesday and the participants did not disappoint.

Some great oysters were put on show, and the winner of the inaugural Taste of Knysna competition was Blend Country Restaurant.

The winning team from Blend who came out on top in the competition.