Galliova Food and Health Writers' Awards announced

The winners of the 2023 Galliova Awards (from left to right): Tony Jackman, Glynis Horning, Chad January (back), Lucille Botha representing Arina du Plessis (front), Anna Trapido (back), Sam Linsell, Georgia East, Esther Malan

South Africa’s top food and health writers and digital content creators were announced at Chorus, Bertus Basson’s newly opened restaurant at Waterkloof Wine Estate, in Somerset West.

The Galliova Egg Hero

The newly introduced category, the Galliova Egg Hero, which invited entrants to submit content aimed at budget-conscious South Africans with limited disposable income, attracted many newcomers, including food and health writers and social media influencers.

This new award category demonstrates once again how the Galliova Awards is constantly evolving to reflect the local media’s response to the changing needs of South African consumers.

Sponsor of the event, the South African Poultry Association (SAPA) stated that despite the challenges being currently experienced in the poultry industry, eggs are still one of the most affordable animal proteins available.

During the lengthy judging process, all seven judges commented on the excellent calibre of work submitted across all categories, resulting in very close scores between the top five entrants.

Due to the high standards of entries, for the first time in the history of the Galliova Awards, there was a tie for first place in two of the categories.

The 2023 Galliova Award winners

The 2023 Galliova Award winners are:

The Galliova Food Writer

• Joint winners: Tony Jackman (Daily Maverick) and Anna Trapido (freelance writer). The judges decided that both writers were worthy of first place and therefore the cash for the first and the second prizes will be shared.

Galliova Food Stylist

• Winner: Chad January (My Kitchen)
  
• 2nd place: Johané Neilson (Tuis |Home, Weg | Go, Weg! Ry & Sleep | go! Drive & Camp)

  Galliova Health Writer

  • Winner: Glynis Horning (freelance writer)
    
  • 2nd place: Lydia van der Merwe (Sarie, Sarie Kos & Sarie Gesond)

  Galliova Egg Champion

  • Winner: Arina du Plessis (Landbouweekblad; Landbou Boerekos, Country Cooking & LandbouKind)
  • 2nd place: Herman Lensing (SarieKos)

  Galliova Chicken Champion

  • Winner: Arina du Plessis (Landbouweekblad; Landbou Boerekos, Country Cooking & LandbouKind)
    
  • 2nd place: Chad January (My Kitchen)

  Galliova Digital Content Creator

  • Joint winners: Sam Linsell (Drizzle & Dip) and Georgia East (East After Noon)
  • 2nd place: Dawid Botha (Lekker Weskus)

  The judges could not choose one first-place winner, so it was decided to split this prize between two people and award the second prize to newcomer Dawid Botha.

  Galliova Egg Hero

  • Winner: Esther Malan (Huisgenoot & You)
    
  • 2nd place: Sinoyolo Sifo (Sifo the Cooking Husband)

  The Galliova Champion

  • Winner: Arina du Plessis (Landbouweekblad; Landbou Boerekos, Country Cooking & LandbouKind)

  Introduced in 2022, The Galliova Champion recognises and acknowledges one of the winners, from the other seven categories, for their exceptional work.

  It is not a guaranteed award, and only granted if all judges agree one winner surpassed all expectations.

  The winners were judged according to their overall promotion of locally produced poultry products, including both eggs and chicken as well as excellence in promoting food culture, food writing, visual appeal and food styling.

  The official welcome, to media and members of SAPA was given by Colin Steenhuisen, a member of the SAPA and Egg Boards, and a stalwart of the local egg industry since 1975.

  Steenhuisen thanked the judges for the many hours spent scoring the 2023 entries and also the media for their excellent efforts to support and promote South African eggs and chicken.

  Steenhuisen acknowledged the challenges that the sponsors of the Galliova Awards, both the broiler and egg producers of SAPA, are currently experiencing but stated that hopefully, the situation would improve in the not-too-distant future.

  Well-known television personality, qualified chef, award-winning cookbook author and Galliova judge, Zola Nene, was the MC for the day.