I've entered the lovely Jai and Bee's CLICK event almost every time since its inception and my photos have never come anywhere. When I did a carefully staged shot, a casual snap won. When I did casual snap, a carefully staged shot won. When I did sweet, savoury won; and vice versa etc etc. ad nauseam! But… this week I received a comment on my blog from Bee, tantalisingly telling me that there was something waiting for me on Jugalbandi. And when I clicked through, there it was – my pic on the podium.
My picture won third place!!!
A thousand thank yous to the hard-working judges and of course to Jai and Bee, and congratulations to my fellow-winners Christey, Vera and Ema! And in case you missed it, here is my winning pic again:
Back home in South Africa, it's also been a week for awards. Remember a while back when I asked you to nominate products for the RMB Eat In South African produce awards? Well, the nominations were considered, the judges made their decisions, and the winners have been announced! The awards were created in 2006 by Eat In magazine to recognise independent producers and retailers whose integrity, care for the environment, passion and innovation are putting South Africa on the international food map. The winners in 16 categories were announced on 3 September at a ceremony in Cape Town and there are loads that I can't wait to try! The prestigious Best New Product aware went to Buffalo Ridge Mozzarella di Bufala. Buffalo Ridge is one of only three producers worldwide outside Italy to produce authentic buffalo mozzarella, and the judges thought the quality was even better than some imported equivalents! Makes my heart swell with patriotic pride!
Here is the full list of 2008 winners:
Best New Product: Buffalo Ridge Mozzarella di Bufala
Best New Product runner-up:
Bags of Bites sugar-free choc chip and macadamia biscuits
Innovation Award:
Innovation Merit Award:
Soil for Life home gardens
South African Heritage Award:
Fruits of the Karoo Aloe Juices
Best Organic Producer:
THE SMALL PRODUCER AWARDS
Bakery (bread):
Trevor Daly’s artisanal wood-fired-oven ciabatta (at the Neighbourhoods Market in Cape Town)
Bakery (cakes, pastries and biscuits):
Jardine Bakery’s braised pork belly and apple pie
Cheese:
Dalewood Fromage’s six-month matured Huguenot
Earth:
Earth Apples’ range of gourmet potatoes
Grocery and Condiments:
Quality Pickles’s range of chutneys, sauces and pickles
Paddock (fresh and prepared):
Dargle Valley’s bacon, pork cocktail sausages, pork pies and fresh rib-eye steak
OUTSTANDING OUTLETS
North:
Braeside Meat Market, Johannesburg
South:
Main Ingredient Gourmet Food, Cape Town
East:
Everfresh, La Lucia, Durban
BEST MARKETS
North:
South:
Neighbourgoods Market, Cape Town
East:
Shongweni Farmers’ Market, KZN
So there you have it – the best of the best of our local small producers and retailers. If, unlike me, you are currently in South Africa, please make every effort to support them. And remember to start thinking about who you want to nominate in next year's awards 
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks so much for visiting my blog & for your nice comment ! I simply love your blog – it is so vibrant & the recipes and photography are great. I’ll definitely come back for regular visits !
jeanne, even if your entry doesn’t win, i look forward to it each round. it’s always refreshing and original. congratulations!!!
it’s so great that you’re highlighting local producers in your country. that’s one area where food blogging can really have a huge impact, and you really use your space to create awareness and make a difference.
Whooo hoooo! Well done, I always thought your photos were fabulous.
Well done Jeanne!
Those jellies and jams deserved to win. CONRATULATION.
Definitely will vote next time. Cheers.
Congratulations, Jeanne! It’s a beautiful picture!
I loved that pic from the moment I saw it. I couldn’t be happier that it’s a winner!
CONGRATS Jeanne…that was an absolute winner of a picture. Stunning & delicious. I stared at it for hours on Jugalbandi…YAY for you!! Well done!!
You have just inspired me to not give up….I have tried so many times, with no success. As for the RMB Eat In awards….I am fortunate to say that I have tried many of these products and even nominated my boerewors supplier….I have not tried the mozzarella, but will keep looking.
Congratulations on the picture – I’ve always loved your photography!
Great idea to highlight local producers… I wish I could check them all out – when will they invent the edible internet!?
Big congrats. Sometimes when you dont try to hard it just falls into place.
Congratulations!!! Love that pic
Very interesting re: the Eat In awards, I will be having a browse through those links. (I’ve never tasted genuine buffalo mozzarella, and now that I know it’s being made locally…)
BTW I have tagged you (sorry!)
hey i love reading cook sister ever since i found it a year back…. although i hardly comment ….i spent twenty years in botswana and moved to the US last year and i love to get some southern african goodness from you blog!!…..congrats on your pic, its beautiful indeed….
Congratulations on the well-deserved CLICK award! It really is quite a beautiful pic!
Congrats to you! A lovely photo.