Bhengu’s in ‘Bake Off’ mix
THE SECOND season of the hugely popular reality TV series, The Great South African Bake Off, recently started.
While former presenter Donovan Goliath doesn’t feature this season, his void is being filled by the affable Lentswe Bhengu, who has effortlessly taken up residence next to comedienne, Anne Hirsch.
Born and raised in KwaZulu-Natal, Bhengu initially pursued a career in the investment finance sector. However, his love of food saw him exchange that suit and tie for a chef ’s jacket in 2010.
And he is no duck out of water in front of the camera, either. Bhengu has appeared on Soweto TV’s Kasi Kitchen, as well as SABC3’s Expresso.
On landing this TV gig, he says: “Like any job, I went for an audition with Anne. About seven weeks before we started filming, they told me I’d got the job. When I found out, I did some research.”
Bhengu believes his style as a presenter is what got him the nod. He laughs: “I’m not Anne. I’m not a funny person, but somehow I get people to laugh.”
So what does he bring to the table? “I’m a chef so you will see me interact with the bakers. It’s very natural for me. There are a lot of high fives.”
While he is in his element cooking, baking is a another story. He says: “Patience. I don’t have much of it. I’m not a really great baker. I like to taste things along the way and change it. With baking, you can’t do that. It is an exact science. When I watch all of these guys, I realise how much they love it.
“It’s to do with the preparation before it is put into the oven. Then you have to wait for it to cool before icing it. I won’t shy away from baking if a family member asks me to bake, though.”
The format of the show includes a signature, technical and showstopper challenge with judges Shirley Guy and Tjaart Walraven offering verdicts on whether the end result is a hit or flop. It gets hot in the kitchen with everyone displaying their whisking, crimping and piping skills for eight weeks, and there can be only one winner.
Although they have finished shooting the show, Bhengu continues to pursue his goals. He explains: “At the moment, I’m honing my passion for entertainment and television, focusing on my personality and my profile.”
Bhengu adds: “I tend not to watch Jamie Oliver or Gordon Ramsay as you want to emulate them. I watch more competition-based shows.” So what does he enjoy cooking in his down time? He smiles: “Anything egg-based goes. For family or friends, I enjoy making any pork dish or risotto, or traditional family meal. I experiment with African food a lot.” As for the most interesting thing he has eaten on the show, he notes: “My favourite thing would have to be the Bee Sting cake.”
The Great South African Bake Off airs on BBC Lifestyle (DStv channel 174) at 8pm.