Picture: A professional chef, Thuso Ntokwe/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
A top chef, Thuso Ntokwe said one may be a great cook, but professionals in the food service industry make a distinction between cooks and chefs. So, he said years of training and experience to become a highly-skilled culinarian is needed.
“It’s a little more complicated than simply learning a few basic recipes to declare yourself a chef. A chef needs to run a smooth-operating kitchen and have great food preparation skills, and business skills, including knowledge of nutrition.
“In most cases, you must also pay attention to details and be creative. A high level of discipline, strong leadership, and management skills will be the cherry on top,” he said.
Ntokwe further said it will be advisable for aspiring chefs to go to culinary school and complete a certificate or Diploma in order for them to learn the fine technical aspects of the trade. He added that his love for cooking started back then after finishing his matric.
“I was born and bred in Mokgareng village, near Taung, and matriculated at Mokgareng High School. After matric, I furthered my studies at a culinary institution as a professional chef, where I obtained my Diploma. So, that’s where my journey as a professional chef started.
“I worked in various five-star hotels across the country and later on, joined South African Airways (SAA). I went on to join other big companies such as TS Africa and Tsebo, while I continued with my studies,” said Ntokwe.
As a professional chef, Ntokwe was part of the Dj Nation Annual Bash’s latest edition, where he cooked for celebrities and Very Important Persons (VIPs). He was also featured on Vaaltar FM every Tuesday, where we talked about various recipes.
“I continued to be featured on various radio stations such as Motsweding FM, You FM, and Thobela FM to say the least. Actually, I embarked on this journey simply because I had nothing to do after finishing my matric.
“One of my cousins, Sisi Makgwale who studied Hotel Management proposed the idea to me and I pursued it. So, since then, I started to develop a love for the hospitality industry,” he said.
Ntokwe said, he was grateful after sharing the kitchen with one of the executive chefs who worked for the late world-renowned musician, Michael Jackson. He said that was advantageous and inspired him to work harder.
“Some of the chefs I worked with through my journey had vast experience from cruise ships. So, I grabbed that opportunity with both hands and learn from them. Now, I am planning to publish a cookbook and share the knowledge that I have acquired through my journey.
“I am also planning to have a television show to share various recipes with viewers. Having a culinary school will be a better option because this will present a great opportunity, especially to the upcoming chefs,” said Ntokwe.
He said there are many challenges within the hospitality industry than meet the eye. Ntokwe said, as a chef, one is expected to work strenuous shifts and hours and sometimes be forced to work double shifts.
“You will need to be up to the task. For example, there is load shedding and as a chef, you need to be a fast thinker and ensure that everything goes according to plan no matter what. In most cases, one does not have quality time to spend with family because of the demand.
“As a professional chef, you will also have a limited time during holidays. There are a lot of activities taking place during that time of the year. So, it is essential to have an understanding partner,” he said.
Ntokwe who will be having a Soul Music Meets Soul Food event at RNR Amusement Park in Mokgareng village also dismissed the “kitchen belongs to women” myth. He said, amazingly, most successful celebrity chefs are men.
“We should not be sexists as a society and look into talent without attaching gender to it. We have the most successful male chefs across the world such as Gordon Ramsay, The Naked Chef, Jamie Oliver, and Chef Barney,” said Ntokwe.
The Guardian 