PEG Restaurant food festival 2024 report
REPORT OF THE MAIDEN EDITION OF THE PLASTICO EXPRESS GROUP RESTAURANT FOOD FESTIVAL DUBBED “PEG FFEST” 2024 IN BUEA
From Tuesday 11th to Saturday 15th June 2024, the first Edition of PEG FFEST was held in Buea, a city recognized for its legendary hospitality, at the Molyko Omnisport stadium. This event initiated and masterfully coordinated by Mr. ACHA CLARUS PRINCE witnessed the participation of amateurs and professionals in the culinary art, Chefs and gourmets, public administrations and the general public.
OBJECTIVES
This festival was designed on the main objective to promote and enhance Cameroonian cuisine and culinary diversity through the different dishes of our ten Regions.
- That Cameroon dishes be the top leading dishes in the world;
- That Youths should be economically empowered through training in culinary art;
- That Cameroon traditional dishes of different tribes from the 10 Regions be showcased;
- That the Festival should serve as an avenue to promote other artistic and cultural domains like Music, Fashion, Film, Dancing, Beauty pageant, etc;
- That this event should hold annually and eventually rotatory.
Behind this idea, this food festival specifically was an opportunity to provide happiness, offer moments of conviviality, sharing and strengthening the living together. Furthermore, it was an occasion to celebrate our culture, our know-how, our heritage, brief our identity.
It is necessary to underscore that before the execution of this Project, a series of meetings and working sessions were carried out as from February 2024 by the Chief Executive Officer of PEG and the President of PEG FFEST Mr. Acha Clarus Prince closely assisted by Madam Mbwaye Flora Eposi and a team of persons committed to the organization of events.
Main public administrations services such as the Regional Delegations of Youth and Civic Education, Tourism and Leisure, Agriculture and Rural Development, Livestock and animal Industries, Trade and Commerce, Sport, Arts and Culture for the South West, just to name a few were solicited for their expertise towards the success of the event.
Administrative formalities were fulfilled with regards to Cultural manifestations permit and security coverage by the Sub divisional office of Buea. Sensitizations were intensively carried out through Radio, publicity van, flyers, stickers and online.
ACTIVITIES
The highlights of this festival were focused on the following activities:
I- COMPETITIONS
a- Food Competition (Normal Cooking)
b- Eating and Drinking
c- Comedy
d- Beauty Contest
2- FREE TALENT SHOW; (music, comedy, contorts and dancing)
3- LEISSURE GAMES
a) Table tennis
b) Draft board
c) Scramble
d) Ludo board
e) baby foot
f) sycamore board
4- SPORTS
a) Skating
b) Football
5- EXHIBITION
a) Restaurants
b) Farmers
c) Ice scream
d) Drinks
6- AWARDS
Ø Food competition (first, second and third);
Ø Eating and drinking (first)
Ø Comedy (first)
Ø Beauty Contest (Miss PEG, 1st Runner-up, 2nd Runner-up)
Activities were programmed for five (05) days, starting every day from 08 am – 11 pm at the Buea Molyko Stadium.
DAY I: Tuesday 11th June 2024
It was the launch of the event with three main activities that captivated the attention of participants who came in their numbers to witness the food festival: exhibition of traditional dishes from the ten Regions of Cameroon, Talent show, Comedy, Eating and Drinking competitions.
Competitions
1- Eating and Drinking
Four (04) candidates were shortlisted for this activity where, they had to proof the absorption capacity of their stomach. The meal earmarked for this exercise was “Porridge Cocoyam and 1.5L of water” which is a traditional dish very popular and appreciated in our country and beyond in general, and in the North West Region in particular, due to its savor and riches spices. It was a very exciting competition where the general public was carried away by the different eating techniques of the contestants, who had 10 minutes to consume everything. Three Candidates were selected to continue the competition.
2- Comedy
Four Candidates equally registered to showcase their creative talents with regards to Comedy. Three Contestants caught the attention of the jury and selected for the second phase, due to the message, the originality and the sense of humor of their presentations.
This first day ended with the performances of some young upcoming Musical artists who seized the stage to showcase their talents.
DAY II: Wednesday 12th June 2024
At 08 am, doors of Molyko stadium were open to welcome once more the public who were eager to visit stands where various dishes and crops were exhibited.
In the afternoon, as from 3 pm, the second phase of the Competitions was launched to select Contestants for the semi-finals in each category: Eating and drinking, Comedy. A new cultural element that constituted the raison d’etre of the festival came on board: Competition of the normal cooking with 14 Candidates on the starting point.
Competitions
1. Eating and Drinking
Three candidates where selected for the second round, and they had a plate filled with Fufu and Eru coming from the South West Region precisely eating by Bayangi people and 1 liter of sweet palm wine. As usual it was very exciting as the crowd was hailing and encouraging their fans. The contestants had 10 minutes to consume their food and 2 persons to qualify for the finals for the 3rd day.
2. Comedy
Three persons qualified for this session due to their capabilities and results given by the jury. However, this session was a tough one as the competitors leveled up in this second round making it difficult for the jury to make a decision to eliminate on person, since just 2 persons were needed for the finals, but in every in every competition the must be a winner and two persons were selected for the finals.
3. Cooking
14 persons went for these sessions and it was the most exciting part since it was the first time for most of the contestants. On the first day the contestants had 2 dishes to prepare namely; Kok soup and Cassava from the Central Region and Fufu and Eru from South West Region, they had a specific time (1 hour) to cook given to them by jury.11 persons qualified for the semi-finals.
DAY III: Thursday 13th June 2024
It was a special day where selected candidates from different sectors had to compete for the final phase.
1. Eating and drinking: Two contestants went in for the finals and they had Condre and meat with 1.5 liter of Supermont water from the West Region. They had the meal for 10 minutes and finally there was winner.
2. Comedy: Two contestants were in front of the jury to convince more in their presentation and above all generate more laughter among the spectators and a winner went home with the price.
3. Cooking: 11 candidates were selected for the semi-finals and 5 persons were needed to qualify for the finals. The competition was tough. Candidates in a time frame of 1 hour to show their skill and their knowledge in the cooking of Kwa cocoa and banga soup coming from the South West Region.
DAY IV: Friday 14th June 2024
Activities of this day were marked by the beauty pageant and the cooking competition.
Contestants were judged on physical appearance (facial beauty, sense of attractiveness and charm), sense of confidence, personality and stage presence, walk, posture, etc. and beyond this the inner beauty to test their intellectual skills.
It was a ceremony rich in color which the Candidates competed in skill in the different passages, enhanced by the performances of confirmed and upcoming talents.
Normal cooking: Five (5) candidates were selected for the finals, were all the contestants had to put in their all and use their skills at the maximum level to proof their worth. Candidates had a time frame of 1 hour to cook. On this last day of the finals, the contestants were cooking Achu and Yellow soup a traditional dish from the North West Region of Cameroon.
In nutshell the competition was a tough one and 3 contestants won for the finals.
DAY V: Saturday, 15th June 2024
After four days of intense activities marked by competitions in the various artistic and cultural animations, the proclamation of results and presentation of trophies and prizes were the highlights of the closing ceremony.
Trophies were handed to winners of each category by some important personalities who graced the event by their presence.
Ø Winner in Eating and Drinking competition: Chop Man 237
Ø Winner in Comedy: Mr. Perry Sakwe (Dah Credo)
Ø Cooking Competition
- First winner: Mr. Nkenzea Pride Nkwetta
- Second winner: Miss Gana Elizabeth
- Third winner: Miss Noubi Sandrine
Ø Beauty pageant:
- MISS PEG FFEST 2024: Miss Efuet Elizabeth
- First Runner-up: Miss Tiengwe Tessy
- Second Runner-up: Miss Mbong Sandrine
The general public who came for this closing where thrilled by the performance of the renowned Cameroonian artist ASABA, CARO, Grand Lawrenzo invited exclusively for the occasion.
At 11.30 pm, the curtain was drawn to the maiden Edition of PEG FESTIVAL 2024 in Buea.
CHALLENGES
Although PEG FFEST was an unprecedented event in Buea in particular and South-West Region at large, it is still important de highlights some difficulties encountered during the organization.
1. We had a delay in receiving the authorization of permit to carry out the event on time,
2. Registration for competitors started late.
3. The re-adjustment of the jury members due to their criteria of analyzing the contestants.
4. We also had lack of logistic to transport our products and to carry out our marketing.
Conclusion:
In conclusion PEG restaurant food festival was indeed a success and the competitors and the general public where so happy to be part of this event and we hope to have a better PEG FFEST in the next edition.
The managing Director
