Rustic Chakula
Season 1 SABC3 (*193) 20:30 Lifestyle
After a delayed start in 2017, executive chef Sizo Henna is ready to sizzle with his cooking show Rustic Chakula (2018current). And it’s all about family for the 34-year-old cooking star, who was inspecting his new Joburg wine bar when we called him. “The show name says it all: rustic means warm, rich and homely, while ‘chakula’ means ‘fine food’ in Swahili. Put them together and you’ve got the essence of the series.”
What’s your secret ingredient? I’m giving my twist on good, home-style cooking – the dishes that your gogo, mom and tannie would make… family food. I studied classic fine dining in London, but I’m really a jeans-and-T-shirt guy, so it’s a great combination to me. What’s scarier: a professional kitchen or making food on TV? Definitely television! It’s crazy because it’s a new set of rules for me: always facing the camera, being aware of who is standing where… you won’t believe how many times they shout “Cut!” while filming. [Laughs] Did you have any say in the kitchen layout on the show? Not really, but I didn’t have to – my producers know how I am and what I like. As long as it’s got that bachelor feel to it, I’m good. What is your cooking Achilles heel? I never shy away from any dish, but I have what are called “hot hands”. I’m always on the move and baking requires time and finesse and it’s methodical… What is your show prep like? There is a team who make sure that everything is in place, but we do the actual cooking while filming – I’m chopping, slicing and dicing as we tape. I’m a beer guy, so an ice-cold refreshment helps too. [Laughs] And did you ever think you’d be a TV chef? No, but I’ve watched a lot of cooking shows, so this is a lot of fun for me.