New judge makes TV debut
HIGH-FLYER: CULINARY NOMAD EXCITED TO TAKE TO THE SMALL SCREEN
Cuisine pro will be on MasterChef South Africa panel.
He’s cooked for the likes of Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Black Coffee, Beyoncé and Jay-Z – now South Africans can get a taste of his culinary expertise on the latest season of MasterChef South Africa.
In the upcoming season that will hit our TV screens soon, the home cooks who are about to go on a life-changing culinary journey must impress a cuisine master who has cooked for many a high-profile dinner guest.
Katlego Mlambo, one of the country’s coolest chefs, will appear as a MasterChef judge in the fifth local season of the popular cooking competition which will air on SABC 3.
The other two members of the prestigious trio, seasoned MasterChef South Africa judges Zola Nene and Justine Drake, have said that they will coach and grill the candidates.
Mlambo’s impressive food journey started when he experienced the incredible love of food during his childhood.
“My first four culinary mentors were the home cooks who raised me – my granny, my mother and two aunts. My grandmother would whip up amazing dishes on Sundays and I was enthralled by how basic ingredients could turn into the tastiest banana bread and scones,” he says. “So I became this little sous chef in our home kitchen.”
After that, the travel bug bit the Eldorado Park-born foodie, giving him opportunities to hone his craft at premier restaurants throughout the world.
Mlambo experienced the various food flavours of Great Britain and the United States while working at international restaurants.
Back home, he attended the highly respected Silwood School of Cookery and later received several important prizes, including the 2019 Eat Out Nederburg Rising Star Award.
That was also the year he travelled to Washington as head chef for the Nelson Mandela Centenary Celebrations, which was held at the Smithsonian Museum. Approximately 500 of the world’s most famous leaders and celebrities attended the event.
Mlambo’s exceptional flair with the pots and pans and unique food fusion also earned the jazz eatery, the Marabi Club, the African Restaurant of The Year gong at the Luxe Awards.
Mlambo also presented two television shows on the Food Network – Inside Job and Everyday Wow.
Still, this humble food guru, who briefly appeared as a guest judge in the previous season of MasterChef South Africa, says he had to pinch himself when hearing that he would be one of this season main judges.
“It’s amazing to know that I will be part of a show that’s a global phenomenon. It’s proof that if you believe in something, see it and taste it, it can become a reality. Being a MasterChef judge was on my bucket list.”
Mlambo confesses that he looks forward to being the one waiting to be served and not the other way around.
“But even though I will be on the receiving end, tasting and
judging the food while mentoring the contestants, I know I will also be inspired by their creations from ingredients in the Pick n Pay pantry. One can never stop learning and
I can’t wait to experience the variety of cuisine created by contestants from different South African backgrounds.”
The winner will walk away with R1 million in prize money.