Cooking up a recipe for success

Competing in a television reality show gave chef Siphokazi Mdlankomo a taste not only for stardom but for success as well.

Mdlankomo had been working as a domestic worker for nine years when she decided to enter television cooking reality show MasterChef South Africa.

And although she did not win, Mdlankomo, now 41, finished second, walked away with R100000 and has not looked back.

Speaking to the Saturday Dispatch last week, during her visit to her home town Tsolo, just outside Mthatha, Mdlankomo said after MasterChef she had felt “electrified” and wanted to do something even bigger with her talents.

“MasterChef opened many doors for me, so I was very lucky because just after Royco made me their ambassador they got into talks with Mzansi Magic about conceptualising a show.

“They approached me – and here we are,” Mdlankomo said.

Working on Let’s Eat with Siphokazi had taught her so much about television production, a learning curve she valued.

She recently shot the show’s final episode at her home in Tsolo.

Mdlankomo, who does not like idle hands, earlier this year also published her own book, My Little Back Recipe Book.

She cannot recall the exact moment she fell in love with cooking, she just remembers that she’s been good at it since she was a child.

“As girl children, we are all expected to cook you know and most just take it as that, a chore, but not me.

“I remember watching and being fascinated anytime my mother baked or cooked and as I grew up I started inventing my own little tweak to ordinary food like pap or pasta but I never imagined that I would get this much recognition for it,” said Mdlankomo.

Though she does not have a signature dish, she swears by garlic, which she reckons goes with just about anything, except dessert of course.

“I cook whatever I feel like at that particular moment, even when I have guests coming over I like to surprise them and serve them something new.

“This way I also stretch myself and test my abilities, which is important in the culinary industry because recipes and cooking techniques are always changing,” she said, even though she personally enjoys eating potato gnocchi and lamb bredie.

Mdlankomo is also a brand ambassador for Pick n Pay, a duty which includes attending events and contributing recipes to the supermarket chain’s monthly magazine Fresh Living and its monthly newsletter, Fresh Talk.

She is extremely excited about teaching at a cooking school for domestic workers next month – also an initiative by Pick n Pay.

“I think I just enjoy being around people who are eager to learn more about food and the art of cooking and it is rewarding to see their skills improve,” she said.

“It has been an experience that has also encouraged me to work harder towards my goal of one day opening up my own agency where I would teach people how to cook.”

Mdlankomo’s achievements have also blessed her family – her sister, Nombulelo Mdlankomo, said Nonceba – as the chef is affectionately called at home – has put her whole family on the map and is proof that even a rural girl is able to do amazing things.

“I even remember when she told us about MasterChef we did not have access to DStv so we did not believe her but I remember travelling the breadth of Tsolo village scouring for someone who would let us watch; we never saw her on the show but we were getting updates from friends and family,” said Nombulelo.

She recalled how it now seemed clear that Siphokazi was destined for a career in food.

“She was always keen in the kitchen, some of us would get discouraged if there was no meat to go with the food but not Nonceba, she always managed to make a really delicious dish with even the most bare minimum ingredients.

“There was a time when she was at boarding school and I remember how excited I would get the day before she came home because I knew it meant we would be eating good food; we are very proud of her,” said Nombulelo.

Mdlankomo’s cooking show, a 13-episode series in its first season, features inspirational South African women and so far guests have included the likes of Yvonne Chaka Chaka and Thembi Nyandeni.

The show is being considered for a second season.

Mdlankomo said the reason for her success was purely due to hard work and humility.

“I have always kept things simple, from the way I carry myself to the way I conduct myself – mix that with a little a good fortune and visible dedication to the craft and the sky is the limit,” said Mdlankomo.

She believes Italy is the mecca of food and hopes that one day she will be able to travel there – but for now she is sharping her knives and simmering her talent to help other domestic workers find their magic. — ziphon@dispatch.co.za