Local restaurateurs will battle it out in a ‘Ready Steady Cook’ style competition to be staged in Umhlanga on July 4 at 19h30. Butcher Boys’ Myles MacLarty will pit his strengths against Bangkok Wok’s Marshal Bel-Cross in a Cook-Off in which contestants, using identical ingredients, make two dinner courses in front of a live audience. East Coast Radio’s Celebrity Chef, Jono Shepherd, will compère this fun competition, leaning heavily on audience participation in the final vote. Entry is free and all are welcome.

The Cook-Off forms part of Umhlanga Tourism’s second jazz evening which also coincides with the busy Durban July weekend. This late night event, part of the Umhlanga Winter Sunshine Festival, includes the appearance of the jazz band ‘Beat-Route’ from 18h30 to 23h00.

Chartwell Drive will be partially closed off for the evening. Beat-Route, which performs several times a week in and around Durban, will use trumpet, trombone, banjo, piano, drums and vocals to play foot-tapping Dixieland numbers, as well as great American jazz standards. Well-known pieces include Down By the Riverside, When the Saints Go Marching In, Hello Dolly and many others. Alfresco dining at Umhlanga’s many superb cafés makes this the ideal venue for outdoor entertainment. Booking at restaurants is advised.

In conjunction with Makulu Event Producers and sponsored by Durban Tourism and Bonaqua, Umhlanga Tourism will also host a number of family activities on Umhlanga’s main beach and millennium stage from July 4 to 8 from 10h00 to 14h00 daily. Here, too, visitors are in for a treat. Cape Town entertainer Jo Rowlands is booked to lead proceedings. Jo is an entertainer of many years and will inject a great deal of energy into the fun planned for Umhlanga’s Winter Sunshine Festival.

More information from Umhlanga Tourism on 031 561 4257.