Electrical engineer turned chef sparks up the kitchen

POLOKWANE – 27-year-old Mokgadi Pretty Maanaso explained that it was during her pregnancy in 2017 that she developed her love for cooking. “I took a year to focus on my pregnancy and a majority of that time was spent in the kitchen. I remember thinking that I can do this for the rest of my life,” she shared.

It was during that time that she took the bold step of completely removing herself from the engineering field and enrolled in a chef’s academy. She recalls telling her parents that she does not want to be an electrical engineer anymore and that she will go back to school to study to be a chef.

“They were not surprised at all and they took it well because they already knew about my love for cooking. They were very supportive of the decision,” she said. As a tribute to her parents for their unwavering support, she created a special hot sauce in their honour.

The hot sauce is called the Sam & Mol Maanaso Hot Sauce. She caters and does private chef gigs as part of her business, Mokgadi’s Kitchen, which she founded in 2019. “I have found my calling and I love cooking. I put the love I have for cooking into everything I make and believe me, you can taste it,” she said. She plans to travel the world and discover different cuisines before she settles here. She can be reached on Instagram at Mokgadi’s Kitchen, or on WhatsApp on 065 830 6664.