Sipping on her morning brew, flavoured with a pinch of Himalayan crystal salt, Renuka Lallbahadur’s eyes twinkle as she recalls the moment she fell in love with food.
The self-proclaimed home cook and versatile baker laid it all on the line as she mixed, blended and recently whisked her way to winning SABC 2’s The Taste Master Season 5.
“My love for cooking started at the age of eight. I remember watching my mom whip up the most delicate delights, not once referring to a recipe or weighing out any ingredients,” she said while sitting in her cosy dining room in Farrarmere.
“At the age of 12, my sisters and I would take turns preparing family dinners. I would experiment with tried and trusted family dishes, adding various flavours. That is where my journey with food started.”
The coffee and chocoholic admits that the kitchen soon became her domain of self-expression.
She spent her money on cookbooks, pouring over the recipes and immersing herself in the science of baking.
“My mom made baking seem effortless, her creations were magical but it was the intricate balance of ingredients and how it affects the outcome of your dish that fascinated me.”
Entry into the competition was a journey of self-discovery for the former registered nurse.
“In my home, food is always the centre piece from where cherished memories are made,” she said.
“I dabbled with the idea of establishing a baking business but the high standards I set for myself always overshadowed my dream. I was desperately seeking guidance, a push out of my comfort zone which would see me actively pursuing my passion.
While binge-watching four seasons of the competition, Renuka was once again overcome with a nagging feeling that she was not living to her full potential.
“I saw the call for entries and without hesitation submitted my entry. I was honestly not expecting a response,” she humbly admits.
“But then the call from the show’s producers came through. I had been selected as one of the 14 contestants. I was overcome with emotion.
“Was this the sign I was waiting for?”
Armed with enthusiasm, Renuka jetted off to Cape Town for the filming of the show, soon realising that she was only one of two home cooks.
“Some of my fellow contestants had vastly more knowledge and experience but I owed it to myself to do my best and allow the process to follow its course,” she said.
“Winning was never my focus, instead I was motivated to present exquisite dishes following the set briefs to be critiqued by some of the country’s culinary maestros. Any feedback, positive or negative had the potential to help me in honing my skills and coming closer to believing in the validity of my dream.”
As waves of challenges crashed down on the contestants throughout the 13-week process, Renuka soon found herself edging closer to the top three.
“The outcome of the competition was the furthest thing from my mind. I was soaring on the energy from the finalists, who became friends and then family,” she said with a warm smile.
“The judges’ feedback further cemented my desire to pursue my dream and silenced my doubts.”
With R150 000 in prize money from Capitec, R100 000 worth of KitchenAid appliances, a choice of R100 000 worth of Samsung accessories and R65 000 chill blaster, Renuka says she has not only been given a loud and clear sign from the universe about her way forward but also all the tools she needs to transcend from being a home cook.
“When we moved into our home in 2022, my husband and I toyed with the idea of converting the flatlet into an industrial kitchen. There is no reason to put that off any longer as we now have everything to make it happen,” she said with glee.
“Once completed and with renewed confidence I will finally open my business.
“I hope to use this opportunity to further empower women with cooking and baking skills which they can in turn use to establish their own businesses and hopefully reap the fruits of financial freedom.”
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