Khanyi’s passion feeds big dreams

BORN in Umlazi Durban and raised in Ndakeni, a small village in the Eastern Cape, 25-year-old Khanyi Nombewu has overcome many challenges to carve out a career for herself in the hospitality industry.

Bright, vivacious with a smile that could probably light up a thousand lightbulbs, this engaging young woman faces challenges head on. She’s no shrinking violet, she has too much to do, too many dreams to realise and too many ideas to share.

“I did my schooling in Durban and all along had no idea what I wanted to be once I’d finished school. In my village of Ndakeni, there was a lot of violence when I was growing up, so I went through a stage of wanting to be a policewoman. The violence angered me and I thought if I joined the police, I would be able to put an end to the violence.”

But it was while watching her beloved grandmother cooking, that her interest in food was ignited and soon developed into an all-consuming passion.

“I remember the day so clearly. My grandmother was cooking using butter instead of oil. I was amazed and so began my first attempts at cooking in her kitchen. She definitely gave me my love for cooking,”she said laughing at the early memory.

Cooking was one thing, but baking was something altogether different. “I remember my grandfather coming home with a loaf of raisin bread. I’d never tasted anything so delicious. I had no idea what went into it. I’d never tasted such sweet bread or cinnamon before. All I wanted was to know how to make more!

After finishing matric, Khanyi faced a dilemma. While food was her passion, she also loves working with children and pursuing a career that involved children also seemed an attractive choice.

“Eish, no one supported my passion for food. My family just didn’t understand how I could have a career in food. I had no idea what I was letting myself in for. Everything was different and I had to learn quickly. I’d never been in an industrial kitchen before. I’d never seen, never mind used a big stove and oven – back home, we cook on a two plate or over the open fire! I’d only ever seen fridges, freezers and big stoves in newspaper adverts, now I was expected to use them. It was a daunting challenge, not only learning about the equipment and kitchen utensils, but I had to learn a whole new vocabulary of cooking terminology. I even had to learn how to use a knife and fork!”

Her brown eyes twinkle in merriment as she relays her first foray into a professional kitchen, but her tenacity and determination to prove not only to herself, but to her family that she was on the right path stood her in good stead and she made it through her years of study.

Slowly, with the loving support of her grandfather who also supported her dream financially, the family came to accept that there was a budding chef in their midst. “I remember having to explain to them that what I was doing was cooking normal food, but with an extra touch. They just didn’t understand what it meant to be a chef,” she said.

It was while looking for a establishment that would take her on as an intern, a requirement for her third year of study, that she faced more challenges.

“No one in Durban could offer me an intern position, but I’m known to be a bit of a risk taker, so I began searching further afield. I decided to try Johannesburg, but my grandfather would not hear of it. By chance, Khanyi found a post at Cosy Posy in Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape.

“I arrived, in the pouring rain, drenched and covered in mud for my interview. I was very nervous. During the interview I happened to mention that I loved baking and the person interviewing me said I was a Godsend because they were in need of a pastry chef! I couldn’t believe it, I went from student to pastry chef!

In the kitchens at Cosy Posy, Khanyi has impressed guests with her delicious cakes, pastries and desserts. She has cooked and baked for the president and cabinet ministers, for local and international guests, but most of all, she has amazed her family with her dessert skills.

“My journey is not unlike many others my age. We all have challenges to overcome, but it has been my experience that to succeed one must work hard and believe in yourself. I want to tell others what I am doing. I want to share my experiences with young people and tell them that food is a viable career choice. I want to go to high schools and share the joys of my career and tell them that there are careers out there that they have never heard of or considered. It’s not easy, you stand for long hours, but if you know who you are, you stand firm and overcome the challenges. Every scar from a slipped knife or burning pot is just a reminder of how far I have come in this industry and how many more opportunities there are out there for me.”

Khanyi’s future plans include her own recipe book and hopefully, one day owning her own bakery specialising in pastries. “I want to give back to my community and establish a fund for young children in need, and I want to be instrumental in making South Africa internationally known for its black chefs,” she says laughing, “I know, I’m a girl who dreams big!”