Page 25 - Cornwall Issue 4 2025

FOOD
CHEF

ZANELE

SHINES

Pebbles

FOOD AND FAMILY ARE CHEF ZANELE’S STAPLES

amily means everything to chef up in Bergville, KZN, and now splits mother of two girls, says her culinary
and cookbook author Zanele van her time between Johannesburg and journey started in 2012 when she was
FZyl, so it is apt that she credits Gqeberha. on maternity leave from a job as an IT
them with turning her passion into a technician: “I fell in love with cooking and
hugely successful career. She loved watching her mother in the made the decision three years later to
kitchen but it was also her husband launch a second career after attending
“My interest in food and cooking who encouraged her. “He used to cook culinary school.”
began at a young age, growing up in for me a lot when we were dating. His
a home where food was central to food looked like it was prepared at a She chose Capsicum Culinary Studio
family gatherings and culture. Watching restaurant and I was always fascinated to do a diploma in cooking and food
my elders cook with passion and by how he did it,” she explains. preparation. It had a reputation for
care inspired me to follow this path excellence and offered a practical,
professionally,” says Van Zyl, who grew Forty five year old Van Zyl, who is the hands-on approach to culinary training.

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