THE SHERATON PRETORIA HOTEL’S CHEFS HEATED UP THE KITCHEN DURING THE UNILEVER FOODSOLUTIONS CHEF OF THE YEAR 2010 COMPETITION IN DURBAN

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) September 27, 2010 -- During the Mystery Basket National Finals, competitors only had half an hour to create an award winning menu and three hours to prepare and present an innovative starter, a main course and a dessert to six judges. It all had to come together with an exceptional table setting to impress each judge. The competitors were scored on taste, the number of Unilever products used and the novel use of these products, originality of the recipes, the degree of difficulty and skills required, fusion and flavours, portion size and naturally the table presentation.

Team Sheraton, with the majority being trainee chefs, all underwent training at the HTA School of Culinary Art, one of South Africa's premier chef schools. This award winning team consisted of Jan Louis van der Skyff (team manager), Adrian Vigus Brown (junior chef), Jonathan Roos (senior chef) and Alexios Manikas, the waitron responsible for the astounding table presentation and impeccable service delivery. The winning menu comprised of a starter of pan fried spicy calamari tubes stuffed with Thai tomato and beetroot, and Tikka roast prawn tail set on a red onion couscous, a main of red kidney bean and corn chicken roulade with BBQ braised pork fillet with sweet potato fondant, Yorkshire pudding, seasonal vegetables accompanied with a red wine and onion jus, and a dessert of Macadamia nut chocolate mousse set on a rum crumble with wild berry fruit pudding and fruit salsa – a feast fit for kings.

Chef Johann Roos, the Executive Head Chef at the Sheraton Pretoria Hotel, who accompanied his team during the finals in Durban and who supported them throughout this prominent competition in preparation for the big day has committed his entire career to train young chefs, assisting and encouraging them to reach their true potential. “It is fantastic to see that such young talent in this industry is provided with the opportunity show South Africa what they are capable of accomplishing. It is an absolute honour to have these award winning chefs preparing exceptional cuisine at the Sheraton Pretoria Hotel proving that we present our guests with only the best culinary expertise and service delivery”.

At the Sheraton Pretoria Hotel we offer our guests with more than a room with a view, we provide them the complete package, from exceptional services and state-of-the-art facilities to a gastronomic journey at our top restaurants.

Being first is better when shared.

About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1000 properties in nearly 100 countries and territories with 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft®, and Element SM. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.

For more information please contact:

Willie Williams
Dep. Director of Sales & Marketing, Sheraton Pretoria Hotel - South Africa
& Area Public Relations, Eastern & Southern Africa - Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc.
t — 27.(0)12.429.9999
m — 27.(0)82.370.1705
f — 27.(0)12.429.9328
E-mail: willie.williams@sheraton.com
Website: www.sheratonpretoria.com