Presidents, queen fed by chef over two decades
HIS dishes have tantalised the tastebuds of statesmen like Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki as well as those of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.
Executive chef John Moatshe has the bragging rights to feeding some of the world’s most famous faces during his 20 years at Durban’s Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre.
As the ICC prepares to mark 20 years of existence on August 8‚ Moatshe is hard at work finalising an elaborate menu for a celebratory gala dinner.
Durban was the first South African city to establish an international convention centre‚ which has generated about R30-billion for the national economy after being built at a cost of R746-million.
Since its official opening by Mandela in 1997, heads of state‚ royalty‚ international performers‚ captains of industry and sporting luminaries have walked through its doors.
Moatshe‚ who joined the ICC as a sous chef and worked his way up the ranks‚ can not put a number to the volume of meals he has prepared or overseen.
“It’s probably tons‚ too many to count. I have met many famous people. The most outstanding memory for me was meeting Nelson Mandela.
“I prepared a simple meal of chicken and vegetables for him. If I can remember clearly‚ he loved his veggies. I’ve also been in the presence of the queen and Thabo Mbeki‚” Moatshe said.
A few of the events which have positioned the ICC on the global conferencing map are the World Economic Forum on Africa‚ 21st International Aids Conference‚ COP17/21‚ Tourism Indaba‚ the 4th Brics International Competition Conference‚ 14th World Forestry Congress and Africa Peace Awards.