These Three SA Female celebrity chefs raising the bar in the culinary world with their dedication and love for their craft.
Karen Dudley
This South African chef is a true artist in the kitchen. When it comes to bringing out the rich textures and teasing the tongue with flavour out of food, she is one of the best. Karen is well known for her restaurant “The Kitchen” in Woodstock, Cape Town, the popular restaurant was even visited by the former First Lady Michelle Obama back in 2011.
When it comes to cementing herself as a Culinary master; there seems to be no end in sight. She has appeared on international broadcast like CNN and TEDx; Interviewed by The New Your Times and the Guardian; Appeared as a Guest Judge on “My Kitchen Rules South Africa.
Her love for food has also seen her publish Three books, “A Week in The Kitchen” (2012); “Another Week in The Kitchen” (2013); “Set a Table”(2018);.
We can all take a page out of her book and follow our dreams.
Prudence Margaret Leith
Prudence Margaret Leith or more fondly known as “Prue” is a British-South African that has an impressive list of accomplishments and has held numerous challenging roles in her various disciplines.
Her accomplishments are so vast that to you could fill a book, possibly five books all about her journey. Here is just a brief outline of some of her accomplishments.
She’s a Michelin Starred restaurateur she opened her first restaurant “Leith’s” in 1962, that went on to earn a Michelin star. As if operating a restaurant was not enough she then founded “Leith’s School of Food and Wine” in 1975, we could end it there but why stop? she certainly hasn’t in her long career she has become a successful Journalist, Cookery writer, novelist and Television Presenter/Broadcaster appearing as a Judge on “Great British Menu” for eleven years before joining “The Great British Bake off” in 2017.
Along with such an expansive career comes numerous rewards and accolades, some of which include: Thirteen honorary degrees/fellowships and selected as a Chancellor of Queen Margaret University.
Sibahle Mtongana
When “Siba’s Table” first aired on the Food Network, it bonded Chef Sibahle as South African and global food icon in over 135 countries worldwide. Her path as a renowned chef much like her African dishes come with a unique twist, after completing a degree in Food and Consumer Science at Cape Technikon she had her heart set becoming a food buyer for Woollies. However, her fate was to be far grander; She instead landed the Role Assistant Food editor at Drum Magazine and two years later appointed as Food Editor.
In 2010 she had the opportunity to present her show “Cooking with Siba” showcasing her original recipes that offered a taste of traditional cuisine with an international twist so audiences abroad can try the recipes at home with readily available ingredients. Then in 2013, she made her grad Debute on the Food Network with “Siba’s Table”, and the rest is history or is it?
Not only has she become one of the most in-demand celebrity Chef to grace local and international programmes, magazine covers and food festivals the world over. She is also a loving wife to her spouse Brian Mtongana, a mother to four beautiful children and celebrated author with her best-selling cookbook “My Table” (2015) that also won two awards at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards in China (2017).
She has also gone to win numerous other awards, including 5 US Film & Television Awards and 4 Local Awards and her Food Solutions and Innovations Holdings Company “Siba Co” was picked to culinary direct and curate the VIP menu for the inauguration of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2019.
Sibahle Mtongana story is inspiring and shows the world that Black South African woman can achieve anything if the desire and passion are there.
