ZANDILE NONTWANA MNCHUNU SAYS 'HOWZIT CHINA'

Zandile Nontwana Mnchunu
(Photo : Kulula.com) 

Zandile Nontwana Mnchunu
features in Kulula in-flight magazine

"Zandile is chef de partie at Hartford House, the multi-award-winning hotel in the Midlands. We caught up with her before a life-changing trip to Shanghai.

Q : Where did your love of cooking come from?

A : I don't know really, but my earliest memories are of making mieliepap with my mother. I loved those special occasions when she made curry and rice. I was always fascinated by how food can emphasise happy or sad moments in the life of a family.

Q : Did you always mean to become a chef?

A : It was not really something I thought would be possible. I started right at the bottom - I was in the scullery, but head chef Jackie Cameron noticed I loved to cook, and allowed me to take up the challenge of fine-dining cooking. I had no idea where my love of cooking would take me, but now I’m going with Jackie to represent South Africa and Hartford House at the Shanghai World Expo for a South African food and wine week. I can hardly believe it!

Q : What do you plan to do while you're in Shanghai?

I want to learn about the food and culture of the Chinese. I have already started researching how to say 'hello', 'goodbye' and 'thank you' because I want to be able to greet people. Most of all, I want to teach them to cook the way we're doing it at Hartford and in South Africa."

Extract from Kulula.com

Hartford House
Hlatikulu Road (off Mooi River-Giant's Castle Road), Mooi River, 033-263-2713

For more information please visit :
www.hartford.co.za