Bhengu and the big bake-off
LITTLE would he have thought years ago, when he was 9 and starting to become hooked on cooking, that one day he would be on national television discussing food, following years of his own culinary success.
That’s what has happened to KwaZulu-Natal-born chef Lentswe Bhengu who, in spite of an early love for being in the kitchen, began his career in the investment finance industry, before trading in his suit and tie for a chef ’s jacket in 2010.
After training as a chef and graduating, he worked at various South African restaurants, including Cape Town’s Savoy Cabbage, The Roundhouse Restaurant and Saucisse Deli.
He is now a familiar face from Soweto TV’s Kasi Kitchen, the web series Africa on a Plate and SABC3’s morning show, Expresso.
The TV connection continues as Bhengu will be joining Anne Hirsch to co-present the new season of DStv’s fun BBC Lifestyle series, The Great South African Bake Off, to run from October with Shirley Guy and Tjaart Walrave back as judges.
“I’m over the moon to be joining The Great South African Bake Off. The format is a global phenomenon and I can’t wait to join the successful local version. It will be great to see, and hopefully sample, all of the baker’s creations,” says Bhengu.
Judge Guy said she was delighted to be back for a new series. “I’m sure the show is going to be even better. I’m hoping that many talented bakers who lacked confidence to enter last year have had the courage to do so this time around.
“As a person who taught cooking for many years, observing bakers grow as the weeks go by gives me a real thrill.”
Fellow judge Walraven said: “I’m looking forward to even more incredible bakes. I have a sneaking suspicion that this year’s standard will be very high, so I think Shirley and I are going to have our work cut out.”
The Love Productions format will again be produced by Rapid Blue, with filming starting this month.
The first series attracted record ratings, positioning itself as the highest performing show on BBC Lifestyle last year.