By Our Reporter
On Good Friday, there will be a culinary showdown as Singleton presents the Chef Versus experience yet again, with Chefs Nziza and Sam set to battle it out at Salama Springs.
It is going to be a bold, flavour-forward event, where two standout culinary personalities, Pitmasters UG’s Chef Nziza Rurangirwa, and Chef Sam Muhumuza- Meat Guy, go head-to-head in a battle of creativity, craftsmanship, and of course, exceptional taste.
But this isn’t just any cook-off. Each course must incorporate the rich, complex notes of Singleton whisky, an exciting twist that is always anticipated at these showdowns.
Chef Nziza of Pitmasters UG – The Soulful Flame Whisperer
For Chef Nziza, the founder of Pitmasters UG, food is more than sustenance, its memory, emotion, and storytelling on a plate. His journey into the culinary world began at 18, inspired by warm kitchen memories with his mother and a longing to recreate the sense of “home” in new communities.
Since launching Pitmasters in 2018, an online catering and delivery service, Nziza has grown from backyard BBQ enthusiast to a respected culinary entrepreneur, known for his unique take on Ugandan traditional smoking techniques.
For this challenge, he’s leaning onto his roots, infusing Singleton into dishes that spotlight Uganda’s deep heritage of smoking meats and roasting vegetables. He will be layering the whisky notes with smoky, earthy undertones for a sensory experience like no other.
“Every dish is special,” he says. “Guests should expect flavours they can relate to. The twist is that they are just expressed in unique and surprising ways.”
Chef Sam of Meat Guy – The Bold, Unfiltered Grill Master
On the other side of the flame is Chef Sam Muhumuza, the charismatic force behind Meat Guy, a BBQ brand located in Industrial Area, that has steadily become a household name among Kampala’s meat lovers.
He shies away from the “chef” title, calling himself a BBQ enthusiast with a deep love for fire, flavour, and pushing boundaries.
From humble beginnings with Sam’s Takeout and Sam’s Burgers to building the Meat Guy brand, Sam’s focus has always been simple: better food, better flavour, better meat.
He boasts five years of professional experience, and ten more on the side, and he confirmed that he is no stranger to innovation. For Singleton’s Chef Versus, he’s embracing the challenge wholeheartedly.
“Sweet honey, vanilla, soft fruit, toasted oak, that’s a four-course flavour meal if you ask me. So, expect bold pairings, rich textures, and a journey for the palate, our guests are in for a night of culinary theatre,” he jokes.
What ties these two culinary firebrands together, beyond their love of the grill, is their shared passion for innovation and respect for flavour. Guests also get to vote for their favourite chef at the end of the showdown.
Come Good Friday, foodies should expect an exciting fusion of fire and finesse, heart and hustle, whisky and wonder at the Singleton Chef Versus.