5 South African Women in Food Who Inspire Us
In celebration of National Women’s Month, we’re shining the spotlight on five local ladies whose passion and talent for working with food is nothing short of inspiring. South Africa’s food industry is all the richer thanks to their contributions, which continue to positively impact the lives of countless people across the country. We’re moved by their stories and are excited to share them with you, too! Here are the five South African women in food who inspire us.
Debbie Logan
Photo credit: Dan Colpo
As a food activist, founder and owner of Organic Emporium, Debbie Logan is a champion of the organic food movement in South Africa. She has spent the past eight years searching for South Africa’s best farmers and stocks a selection of their organic produce within her Bryanston-based store which seeks to bridge the gap between consumers and farmers. “The farmer is the hero of the whole story of food,” she says. “We are here merely to serve as a connection piece.” Her inspiring philosophy is paving the way for a new kind of retailer – one that gives an equal measure of care to its suppliers, customers and products on the shelf.
Mogau Seshoene
Image source: saunder36.co.za
Through her company, The Lazy Makoti, Mogau Seshoene is preserving South African culture by teaching local women how to cook traditional cuisine such as chakalaka and pap. In addition to cooking lessons, The Lazy Makoti also sells a range of locally-produced kitchen accessories which help empower Pretoria’s township communities. Mogau grew up in a township herself and we are inspired by her success given that she had very little social and economic capital to draw on when she first ventured into entrepreneurship. “I have the chance to make my family proud and to have every person from a township know and believe that it is possible,” she says.
Chantel Dartnall
Photo credit: Mosaic Restaurant
Meet Chantel Dartnall, otherwise known as the world’s best female chef! In a moment that put South Africa on the international culinary map, Chantel won the title of Best Chef Lady at the 2017 Best Chef Awards. Chantel is also the chef and owner of Pretoria’s popular Mosaic Restaurant, where she serves delightful, tongue-in-cheek dishes like ‘French Hamburgers’ which are actually steak tartare macaroons. “Life is so serious and people forget that they were children once,” she says. “My food is a trip for the imagination and people’s own interpretation.” We are inspired by her creativity and rise to the top, and love how she ensures that nature is represented on every plate she serves.
Naledi Toona
Image source: facebook.com/chefnaledi
Naledia Toona, who goes by the name of Chef Naledi, is equally as passionate about food as she is about empowerment. Using her chef skills for good, Naledi offers one-on-one cooking classes to domestic workers in the comfort of their employer’s home using the utensils they have at their disposal. In doing so, they are not only empowered to prepare delicious and nutritious meals for their employer’s families, but also for their own families at home. Naledi was inspired to start offering these classes after training her own domestic worker back in 2013. “As I was training her, I realized that she was not only enjoying learning new cooking skills, but she was fulfilled as well.”
Kubra Mohamed
Image source: eatsplorer.com
Last but by no means least is community baker Kubra Mohamed, who has been serving delicious koeksisters to the Bo-Kaap community every Sunday for the past 20 years. Locals even start queuing in the street outside her home from as early as four in the morning! “Feeding my community on the weekend is incredibly important to me,” says Kurba, who can sell up to 1000 koeksisters on any given Sunday during winter. Her long-standing commitment to her community inspires us and even though we’re unable to try her sought-after koeksisters in person, she has generously shared their recipe here.
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Which South African female foodie inspires you? Tell us about her via any one of our social media pages on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
