What’s cooking for celebs in 2019
Entertainers and top chefs talk to us
CONTROVERSY-PRONE provocateur and entertainer Zodwa Wabantu said her “ass is still in shape” and she hoped to take her career in an acting direction and use it on the stage in the new year.
“I’m now looking for more jobs in acting,” she said. “So I’ll be going for classes. My ass is still in shape, so I want to get on that stage!”
Reflecting on 2018, she said it had been “so great”. “I went to Dubai and the United States.”
For classical songbird Haylea Hayns, 2018 was “a whirlwind of a year” of travel and ticking things off her bucket list.
“I spent the first part of my year in China, Sri Lanka, Johannesburg and then Cape Town on tour with
The Sound Of Music. I sang the anthem at the first international rugby Test match between England and South Africa at Ellis Park.
“I conquered my fear of the ocean and got my Professional Association of Diving Instructors open water dive certificate. I hiked up Table Mountain for the first time, went on a coffee training course and became a level one barista, opened a takeaway coffee shop in Westville called Sideline Coffee, released my first original single –
Feels Like Christmas – and signed with international recording label David Gresham Records,” she said.
In 2019, Hayns intends to recycle, consume less meat in favour of more organically grown produce, run a half-marathon, learn to sew, take up yoga and release her first album.
“I want to be more balanced in everything I do.”
For top KZN chef Jackie Cameron, who heads the Jackie Cameron School of Food & Wine, 2018 has been a whirlwind year.
“It was a jam-packed year with fabulous students, the opening of our Brunch Restaurant, and next year opens many more exciting doors,” she said.
“Students will be getting a threeyear course for the 18-month fees, adding international and national diplomas and so on.”
On the personal front, she wants to spend more time with loved ones.
“This year was my first year of marriage, and to be honest I hardly saw my husband as we were both so busy – I would like to make more alone time and family and friend time next year.”
Also in the Kitchen on New Year’s Eve is Kevin Joseph, executive chef of Durban’s Oyster Box Hotel. “I will be celebrating New Year’s Eve at the Oyster Box,” he laughed.
“This year we’ll be serving New Year’s Eve dinners to 250 guests in three venues. I’ll probably only get home at around 3am. I’ll grab a few hours’ sleep and then get up to spend time with my wife and two sons around the pool and hopefully my master chef son will be operating the braai.”
Joseph said 2018 had been a busy year. “There were trips to London and Mauritius. Wherever I travel, I try to see as much as possible.
“Next year I’ll be travelling to London, Guernsey and Ireland for work and visiting Australia to spend time with family. My New Year’s resolutions include spending more time with my two boys before they ‘fly the nest’, and professionally, to keep The Oyster Box at the top of its game,” he said.
For former MasterChef SA winner Kamini Pather, who grew up in Durban but now lives in Cape Town, 2019 is centred on her business.
Her resolutions are “less social media, become more structured with how I spend my time, who I spend my time with and strategise to maximise my productivity,” she said.
Generations: The Legacy actress Nicole Fortuin said: “Dreams I’ve had for years came true in every sphere of my life and I really feel positive and inspired to keep dreaming.”
Fortuin wants to “secure more international work and do things that scare me”. She also wants to serve her community more.
A tip from Fortuin to help you stick to your resolutions: “I’ve learned that being very specific about your resolutions and putting plans in place to execute them is key. Make sure you can do it all and then be consistent.”
Comedian Nik Rabinowitz gave The Independent on Saturday a long list of resolutions:
“Start using apostrophes correctly,” he wrote.
“Clean all kitchen surfaces three times daily.
“Stop being so OCD. “Spend more quality time with the kids.
“Have more sex with the wife. “Get in the ocean more frequently with a surfboard.
“Don’t get eaten by a great white. “Bring joy to the world. “Crush it.”
Comedian Marc Lottering summed it up beautifully. “I want to only say good things about everyone.”