What started as a Pick n Pay asap! competition ended with Johannesburg customer, Penny Nhlapo, sharing a cooking station with former Springbok captain John Smit. After correctly identifying Smit as the brand’s Mystery Driver, Nhlapo was selected as the winner of the R10 000 prize – and given the unexpected opportunity to meet the rugby legend before taking him on in a live cook-off.
“I said ‘Amen’ – this is an answered prayer,” she said when she received the call telling her she had won. As a passionate rugby fan and self-confessed foodie, it was a moment Nhlapo had never expected when she entered the competition.
The Mystery Driver was revealed at Pick n Pay On Nicol on Friday, 11 September – and live through the Inspire video feature on the asap! app – when Smit revealed his identity.
Nhlapo says that the reveal was particularly special as it was the first time she had met the rugby legend in person. “I was super excited. I got to see him live next to me for the first time in my life, rather than through a recording like television or the internet. This will be a lifetime memory,” she said.
After the R10,000 prize handover, the focus quickly shifted from identifying the Mystery Driver to beating him in the kitchen, where the two had just 20 minutes to create their ultimate Bok Burgers.
The Pick n Pay On Nicol parking lot became a live cooking arena, where Nhlapo and Smit faced the challenge: one burger, one wildcard, and 20 minutes.
Both contestants were given the same core ingredients, but there was one twist – each had to choose a single South African wildcard ingredient from the pantry, with options including atchar and chakalaka to crispy or pickled onions, and make it an essential part of their creation.
“The challenge was about more than simply building a good burger. Each creation had to deliver on three measures – big bite, big build and bok-worthy – and we measured each burger on this. We were looking for bold flavour, seasoning, texture and juiciness; a burger with serious visual impact; and, ultimately, a creation that felt fit for a champion,” says Ianthe Sandnes, Integrated Lead for Pick n Pay asap!.
Hosted by Steven Kitshoff, former Springbok player and co-host of For the Love of Rugby South Africa, a partner of the Mystery Driver competition, the cook-off played out in front of a live audience, with commentary, countdowns and plenty of interaction as the two contestants raced against the clock.
Smit created ‘The Big John’, a double-patty burger layered with onions, finely sliced mushrooms and peppadews for a spicy kick. As Smit put it, “A Bok Burger must have some punch.” He topped it with plenty of cheese, chakalaka, mayo and a touch of chutney.
Nhlapo’s ‘Penny Gold’ burger took a lighter approach, with Nhlapo opting to “go for the health benefits”. Her creation featured browned buns, a single patty, atchar, a slice of cheese, tomato, lettuce and “a bit of sauce”.
In the end, it was Smit who took the Bok Burger crown, proving that his competitive streak extends well beyond the rugby field.
Smit also revealed that he is something of a foodie, although he joked that he had kept his cooking credentials under wraps to avoid being volunteered for too much cooking at home, but lately admitted it was because he makes such a mess. “I love food. I love going to restaurants and experimenting. My wife is an unbelievable cook, so I enjoy spending time in the kitchen. I do make a huge mess, which is why she doesn’t like me in the kitchen, but I do clean up, eventually,” says Smit.
From solving the Mystery Driver clues to sharing a cooking station with the Springbok legend behind the helmet, Nhlapo’s Pick n Pay asap! experience turned a grocery delivery competition into an unforgettable day of rugby, food and a little friendly competition.
