Siphokazi Mdlankomo a chef, brand ambassador and author from South Africa shared how she navigated her cooking journey from the grassroots to becoming a global brand ambassador.
AFN Tell us about yourself!
Siphokazi Growing up with my single mother and supportive grandmother, I initially pursued my mother's dream of becoming a fashion designer, but it didn't resonate with me. In 1995, I became a mother at 19 and left my child with my mother to find work.
My interest shifted towards cooking, leading me to a domestic job. In 2007, luck favored me with a cooking-oriented domestic position with the Andreasen family. Despite setbacks in cooking competitions, my passion for cooking persisted, I am a big fan of Masterchef South Africa, and encouraged by my friend, I auditioned and secured a spot on the show, transforming my self-doubt into confidence.
Post Masterchef, I returned to domestic work, but Shaun Andreasen's efforts landed me a Brand Ambassador role at Pick n Pay. I also hosted a cooking show in 2016, LETS EAT WITH SIPHOKAZI, sponsored by Royco (MARS), it aired on DSTV Mzantsi Magic channel 161. I did four seasons of the show, and in 2020, it came to an end.
My role is to inspire other people who are hopeless that at the end of the tunnel is light. I was once in their shoes, and I know what it is like to struggle, and there is no help. I hope that one day I will be able to help one human being who is in desperate need to become a better person. I am so grateful to PICK N PAY and ROYCO (MARS) for giving me the platform and believing in me.
AFN Why do you cook?
Siphokazi I cook because it is my passion. I love it with all my heart and soul, and I don’t cook just for the sake of cooking; I put my mind to it.
AFN What is your favorite memory in the kitchen?
Siphokazi My memory in the kitchen was as a little girl in the rural village of Tsolo. I would watch my mother making scones on an open fire using a three-legged black pot, and the best part of it was when we were waiting to scrape the bowl and make our own scones by just throwing the dough on the fire.
AFN What is your biggest cooking fail?
Siphokazi Back in 2021, when I was asked to make lemon meringue, I didn’t know what the word whisking until soft picks form meant, and I just whisked the egg whites and poured the runny egg whites on top of the filling.
AFN What kitchen equipment do you use more and can’t do without?
Siphokazi I can’t do anything without my set of Global knives; wherever I go, I take them with me. Even when I’m going back home, I always have them.
AFN What are your favorite foods to cook and why?
Siphokazi I’m a simple person, so cooking simple food packed with loads of flavor is my thing. I wouldn’t say I like complicated recipes, adding many things that you end up not what flavor it is.
AFN What would you like to share with our audience?
Siphokazi Anything is possible if you put your mind to it, and you must be willing to start from the bottom and then go from there.
AFN How can your fans reach you on social media?
Siphokazi
Facebook Page-Chef Sipho Gourmet Food
Instagram-@chefsiphogourmetmeals
Follow my Personal Facebook- Siphokazi Mdlankomo
TikTok- @chefsipho
love reading about chefs who learned directly from their grandmothers rather than going the formal culinary school route. that kind of handed-down home cooking always creates the best flavor foundations. does anyone know if her tv shows are streamable in the US?
Sofia, you are so right! That grandmother training gives a different depth to food, learning to balance flavors by instinct and feel, no be small thing. As for her shows, streaming them outside Africa is tricky sha. You usually need a VPN for Showmax to watch from the US or Europe, but she has some great full recipe segments on YouTube if you want to start there.
watching Siphokazi on masterchef back in 2014 was so emotional man. her grandmother raised her well, you can see it in how she respects traditional dishes like dombolo and proper chakalaka. so proud to see how far shes come from her days in domestic work to a global brand ambassador.
I had never heard of Siphokazi Mdlankomo before, but her transition from working as a domestic worker to becoming a celebrated chef and author is incredible. Does her cookbook focus mostly on traditional Xhosa dishes or more modern South African fusion?
Her story about her mother and grandmother resonates so much o. It reminds me of my own grandmother teaching me in the kitchen before I moved to Toronto. Is her book My Little Black Cook Book available to ship overseas or only sold in South Africa sha?