What was your first industry job?
Commis chef at a pub in Knebworth called The Lytton Arms.
If you weren’t in kitchens, what would you do?
Probably something to do with sports.
What industry figure do you most admire, and why?
Gordon Ramsay. I grew up watching his TV shows, and I think it’s awesome that he does Ironman.
What’s your pet hate in the kitchen?
Not putting things back where they belong, or putting them back empty.
What’s the oddest thing a customer has said to you?
’Why is your skin tone so fair if you’re from Africa?’
Sum up your cooking style in a single sentence.
Simple, clean, and ‘less is more’. Also, fire is the way.
What’s the worst review you’ve ever had?
Luckily, I haven’t had the misfortune of receiving a bad review. Touch wood.
What advice would you give someone starting out in the industry?
Be eager to learn. Take in as much of the simple groundwork as you can because the simple things always build a good foundation that you can lean on. Eagerness also earns you responsibility, which ultimately helps your growth within the kitchen.
Which single item of kitchen equipment could you not live without
Outside of the obvious, which would be my knives, it would have to be the KitchenAid mixer. It’s so useful and versatile.
What would you choose to eat for your last meal?
Roast chicken.
À la carte or tasting menu?
I love to cook and eat à la carte. (Tasting menus will always have a special place, though).
What’s the best meal you’ve ever had in a restaurant?
So far, my favourite meal was at Dove in Notting Hill.
What’s your favourite fast food joint?
Honest Burgers. Their wings are awesome.
What’s the dish you wish you’d thought of?
Skye Gyngell’s mussel, fennel and saffron dish.
MasterChef or Great British Menu?
MasterChef.
What’s the most overrated food?
Sea urchin.
You’re a restaurant dictator for a day – what would you ban?
Working in stupidly hot conditions.
Who would your dream dinner party guests be?
Skye Gyngell.
What’s your earliest food memory?
My uncle and my dad are serious braai masters. My old man’s BBQ chicken and my uncle’s prawns and braaivleis (barbecued meat)
TikTok or Instagram?
Instagram for the win.
What’s the closest you’ve ever come to death?
An armed robbery at my parents’ home when I was 17.
Where do you go when you want to let your hair down?
Anywhere in the countryside with a body of water or a forest.
What’s your tipple of choice?
A tiramisu martini.
What’s your favourite food and drink pairing?
Braaivleis and Smirnoff Ice.
What do you consider to be your signature dish?
I haven’t quite got there yet, but I’m hoping it will be inspired by home.
What’s your guilty pleasure?
Tiramisu.