Cooking from the heart FOODgasm
LORNA Maseko gracefully glides into the Codfather Restaurant without making a sound, it makes total sense that she is a ballerina.
During Masterchef I was team Lorna all the way, so it is a privilege to finally meet her.
She is a beautiful soul. After chatting to her, I understand why she is such a successful woman. Maseko knows what she wants and she is not shy to say that she is going to get it.
Her passion for what she does is palpable.
We settle down to chat about her affair with the culinary world.
Where did Maseko’s interest in food come from?
“I think I have always had a passion for food. When I was a dancer I couldn’t eat as much because you are limited. I think after doing Masterchef , that really sparked my passion for it.
“I love hosting people and having friends over but going through the whole Masterchef experience, I realised I actually love this,” says Maseko.
If you are a fan then you are in luck. Maseko will be cooking her way into hearts at the Easter Family Affair at Maropeng On March 12.
Guests are invited to bring the whole family along for a day of fun at the historical Cradle of Humankind, where they can enjoy a picnic and live entertainment; food stalls where they can experience different cuisines; and take a tour through the Maropeng caves. “When we launched Cooking with
Lorna it was meant to be an intimate cooking experience, everyone has a cooking station and I cook a recipe and there is a challenge, like making mayonnaise or something similar,” she says.
“Basically we push the envelope. So it’s the same idea, but we are opening it up to the public for the Easter event. “You can watch an interactive cooking experience – there’s live entertainment. There’s something for the whole family, including facepainting for the kids. Best of all is that all the food cooked will be donated to a charity to feed hungry tummies, ” explained Maseko. Ballerina, chef, businesswoman,
Top Billing presenter – Maseko is a well-rounded woman. But which is her most challenging role?
According to her, you can not be one thing anymore. Careers are all linked and feed off each other. She literally has her hand in lots of cookie jars.
Maseko has her heart set on bigger, better things and is willing to go the extra mile to achieve that.
Among many future plans, there is a cookbook on the cards and more excitingly, a line of cooking merchandise and apparel which should launch in July.
I asked her to share something about herself with Sunday World that no one else knows.
“I am actually a very fun person. Everyone thinks I am too serious. I have a serious side, but in reality I am a really funny person.”
When I asked who her favourite chef was, she didn’t wait for me to finish the question before she piped up, Heston Blumenthal!
“I would love, love, love to meet him. I also love Marco Pierre White and the Test Kitchen’s Luke Dale Roberts.”
If she had a super-power, what would it be?
“I would clap my hands twice and snap my fingers, and get a happy medium.
“Too much money and no happiness, or happiness and not even money. I would be happy with snapping my fingers and being in the middl.” Clever lady. Ten years ago, where did she expect to be?
“Definitely further ahead than I am now. Business-wise I thought I would be a lot further ahead. I am on the cusp of really amazing things but I thought I would have been there already,” she says.
Ten years from now Maseko says all these deals would be signed, sealed and delivered. She is adamant she will never go back to ballet not even as a trainer.
I realise it doesn’t matter though because Maseko has already realised her dreams, she has the grace and discipline from being a ballerina to drive her new business deals home. She is the epitome of a strong woman who is willing to put in the hard work and reap the benefits.