South African Chef Siphokazi Mdlankomo

South African Chef Siphokazi Mdlankomo

Viewers in South Africa watched as Siphokazi become garnered the runner-up title during season 3 of “Master Chef South Africa.” The story that precedes her appearance on the show is something that she is proud to share with the early part of her culinary journey beginning in Cape Town, South Africa.

Siphokazi left her home in Tsolo, in the Eastern Cape, after giving birth to her son to look for work. She found it working as a domestic worker for a family in Bantry Bay and then with another family years later in Newlands where there was more of a focus on cooking which she really wanted.

In 2010, she entered a competition by Leisure Magazine that was looking for the top ten home cooks, although she was included, she did not win the top spot. She entered another competition, the Kia Cook-Off SA and found herself falling short from the winning title again.

Determined to win, she auditioned for “Master Chef South Africa” season 3 and made the show which aired in 2014. Coming close once again, she went home having placed 2nd in the competition. During the season however, Siphokazi said she struggled with being patient and says she learned, “Not everything is going to go according to what I want.”

She also shares that being there with so many other talented chefs got to her as well. “I was very hard on myself. I didn’t believe in myself. I remember one of the producers said, ‘Siphokazi, if you don’t believe in yourself, nobody will believe in you.’ That hit me and I said, ‘She is right, it needs to start with me.’”

Today she is taking that confidence and sharing her love of cooking with others throughout South Africa and also her fans on social media. She gets honest and candid about her journey and where she is now in this episode.

After listening, be sure to continue following her journey on Instagram.