Meet some of our highly skilled candidate pastry chefs and bakers. Enjoy finding out where they see themselves in five years, who their role models are and what book are they currently reading? (Fascinating!)
Fellow competitors, new friends and old we are counting down to the Cook-Offs in October and looking forward to announcing the incredible Lancewood Pastry Chef of the Year and increasingly important KitchenAid Bio-Wheat Baker at the Awards in December!
Thulisile Dubula
The President Hotel
I am hardworking, ambitious and goal driven.
I want to own my own restaurant.
Carmen Rueda Hernadez She is so amazing.
Act like a lady, think like a man by Steve Harvey
Yonela Mafukula
Ellerman House
I love everything about food, producing it, eating it and creating it. I love making people around me happy.
I want to be a recognised Chef. I want restaurants and hotels to know who is Chef Yonela.
Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen He has a restaurant in France and he is the third South African to get a Michelin Star.
Taste The World with Jenny Morris by Jenny Morris
Qira Matthews
Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel, Cape Town
I am a hardworking individual that is always eager to learn more.
I would like to be working overseas.
Reynold Poernomo and Peter Gilmore I always look forward to seeing what new desserts they create.
Stefni Pedro
Southern Sun Cape Sun
As a hard working person and I am always willing to learn.
I want to grow as much as I can, especially in chocolate and pastry.
Yumna Ismail I have looked up to her ever since I started at Cape Sun. I have learnt a lot from her over the years and I am still learning from her.
Dis Ek, Anna by Elbie Lötter
Thandiswa Ngqamfana
Southern Sun The Cullinan
Fast learner, good listener and proud of myself as a Pastry Chef at Southern Sun The Cullinan.
Senior Sous Chef in the Pastry Kitchen.
Chef Juan Neethling and Chef Dorliga They have been a huge support in my pastry chef career.
The Golden Book of Desserts by Rachel Lane
Masego Mokgofa
Lanzerac Hotel & Spa
I am a very humble, respectful, diligent person and kind with a bold character.
I would like to own two hospitality establishments and of course experience the industry overseas.
Buddy Valastro The Cake Boss. I admire him for his Italian roots and keeping up with the food trends to elevate Italian cuisine.
Elon Musk: The Life, Lessons & Rules For Success
Janisha Parbhoo
The Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa
I am self motivated, independent and quirky.
I would like to see myself overseas in Europe learning from the best pastry chefs and perfecting my skill, and be a few positions up from where I am right now.
Amaury Guichon and Adriano Zumbo Their skills set regarding the pastry world is phenomenal and I hope to become as good as them some day.
An Offer From a Gentleman by Julia Quinn
Ziyanda Nyavu
The Vineyard Hotel
I am very goal driven.
With an established cake business, deli or café or acquired a respectable role as a Pastry Chef.
My Mother She always accomplished her goals despite her challenges and obstacles she faced in life.
Siphindle Mboza
I Love Coffee
Cheerful and hardworking young lady.
Working in an established bakery under the influence of talented chefs gaining experience so I can train other Deaf bakers in the community.
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela She established a place for disenfranchised youth to feel at home, organise, and socialise.
The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale
Sandile Makhathini
Durban ICC
Kind and passionate in everything I do.
My goal is to be Sous Chef in five years.
Bartolo Valestro The Cake Boss because he is business minded and always goes the extra mile in baking.
Nonzuzo Mhlungu
Southern Sun The Edward
Self motivated individual and hard working.
To have my own bakery and coffee shop.
Chef Stanley Skosana He was the one Executive Chef who trained me, it was hard but worth it.
Eon le Roux
Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani
I am honest, hard-working and always pushing myself to achieve success in life.
Head Chef, but my dream is to be Executive Sous Chef at the Elangeni & Maharani.
All my senior chefs at work. They are all a good example especially my head chef Shaun Munro
Molecular Gastronomy by Molecule-R: An Introduction to the Science Behind 40 Spectacular Recipes by Molecular-R Flavors
Nontsikelelo Msweli
Beverly Hills
I am a dedicated, hard working person, full of bubbliness and energy.
I would like to own my own sweet corner / coffee shop where I will make all the sweetest things ever.
My late Father He was a very humble and hardworking man who was always looking forward to learning.
Becoming by Michelle Obama
Lindiwe Ncala & Vuyani Mabeleng & Lucas Ramokgadi
The Palace of the Lost City & Sun City Hotel, Sun City Resort
Lucas Ramokgadi
Sun City Hotel, Sun City Resort
“I’m a passionate individual who is always eager to learn everyday. I see myself becoming very strong in showcasing my pastry experience and having my own bakery. I would also love to grow and be a Pastry Sous Chef. This will make me achieve my goals by sharing my knowledge with the up and coming young individuals especially from rural areas where pastry is not so popular.
My role model is my grandfather whom I was named after. He was a self-taught chef, well known for his cooking skills in the kitchen.”
What book are you reading?
“As long as the book is entitled ‘Recipes!’ I always have to open and read such books,” shares Chef-Lu.
Carl Dick
The President Hotel
I am inquisitive about food.
Working with the Head Chef so that I can learn more to become like him.
Kevin Hart He started small as a comedian and pushed himself hard in life to be where he is now.
A$$Hole: How I Got Rich and Happy by Not Giving a S*** About You by Marty Kihn
Siphele Mgoloza
Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel, Cape Town
I have an extremely wholesome passion for hospitality at large.
In three years time in Australia and thereafter starting with my own institution.
Jamie Oliver It’s how he respects each ingredient and methods, simplifying food.
The Art of Fermentation: The Incredible Noma Guide by Howard Patton
Eugene Knight
Southern Sun Cape Sun
Honest and hardworking.
To be honest, almost retired.
My Dad He was a baker all his life.
Mcebisi Macingwana
Sun Square Gardens
I am a passionate fun, loving person.
I would like to be Head Pastry Chef
Marco Pierre White He is my favourite Chef.
The Chocolate Bible by Christian Teubner, Karl Schumacher, Leopold Forsthofer, Silvio Rizzi, Edkart Witzigmann, Schonf
Gina Marziani
The Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa
I am a passionate, dedicated, strong willed, fiercely loyal woman. Hopefully either overseas learning from amazing Pastry Chefs and developing my skill set or owning my own little bakery coffee shop doing what I love.
Antonio Bachour, Dominque Ansel, Raymond Blanc, Amoury Guichon, Christophe Morel, Gianluca Fusto, Melissa Coppet, Seung Yun Lee. All are such incredible chefs. I find them so inspiring and motivational.
A Taste of My Life by Raymond Blanc
Anthony Chitekwe
The Vineyard Hotel
I am ambitious.
Running my own bakery in my home town.
Nelson Mandela for what he had to go through and then forgave.
Crust and Crumb: Master Formulas for Serious Bread Bakers [A Baking Book] by Peter Reinhart
Benard Zinhumwe
The Rockefeller
I’m a person that gives it all on whatever I am doing.
I want to own my own business.
My role model is myself.
Malusi Hlangu
Durban ICC
I am a self motivated, hard working and passionate person.
In five years I see myself having a small scale bakery in my township and also teaching others how to bake.
Chad Robertson He is the best artisanal baker. When he bakes he combines both ancient and commercial baking techniques and I find that very interesting.
Tartine Bread by Chad Robertson
Andile Mfeka
Southern Sun The Edward
Self driven man who is also willing to learn new things.
Head Chef in one of the big hotels in South Africa
Kevin Goosen He started as a till packer at Pick ’n Pay Bluff, today he is General Manager for all Pick ’n Pay KwaZulu-Natal stores.
Nokubonga Dladla
Beverly Hills
I like to help other people I don’t want to see them suffer.
I will like to see my self owning my own company.
Chef Shaun McGee I learn a lot from him.
Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter
Thembinkosi Cele
The Oyster Box
Ambitious individual and passionate about my career.
I would like to have an establishment of my own.
Chef Shaylin of the Oyster Box Hotel.
Palesa Mokoena
Southern Sun Gauteng Team
I am an ultramodern.
I want to be a Head Pastry Chef
Cedric Grolet and Amaury Guichon Cedric is very creative and he was awarded Best Pastry Chef in the World. Amaury is the best master in chocolate.
Who Moved My Cheese by Dr Spencer Johnson
Obakeng Mothibakeledi
Sun Time Square
Creative and willing to learn.
Head of department or owning my own pastry shop.
Chef Nonkosi (Pastry Sous Chef) She is experienced and very skilled.
Adapt by Richard Hawke
Thapelo Letsogo
De Hoek Country Hotel
I am a very goal driven person with lots of enthusiasm.
I would like to see myself owning a hotel under my name or achieving a Michelin star recognition.
Vusi Nkwinika (Operations Manager) He is very passionate, motivational, inspirational and very supportive when it comes to helping individuals grow within the industry.
The Lean Startup by Eric Ries
Perfect Makarichi
Ivory Manor Boutique Hotel
Passionate, humble, well focused and hungry for success.
Able to teach others and also be able to run my own kitchen.
Jordi Roca, Pierre Hermé, Jessica Préalpato and Derrick Brink, my Executive Chef
The Flavour Bible.
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