Eat your heart out with The Cook Out
Wendy Nemukula works from home and says she loves being in the kitchen.
POLOKWANE – Self-taught chef and businesswoman, Wendy Nemukula, is the proud owner of ‘The Cook Out’, which was inspired by her love for cooking during family gatherings.
Wendy works from home and says she loves being in the kitchen, with her main focus being African cuisine. She told BONUS that to become a chef, you do not have to have academic qualifications, but rather, a passion for food and cooking as well as stamina as long days in the kitchen can take their toll on your feet. She added that you have to be able to multitask.
“Being a chef, you have to have creativity and imagination in food presentation. There is a lot of work that goes into being a chef. I ensure that my meals are cooked and seasoned well and that they are pleasing to the eye,” she said.
Wendy explained that her brother was the person behind her business’ name and that it perfectly suits the kind of food she makes as she prepares dishes for individuals who enjoy eating outdoors.
“I started ‘The Cook Out’ in 2012 in Nzhelele village in Venda where I ran my own food shop. The business grew when I relocated to Polokwane and I opened a restaurant, but because of the lockdown, I’ve had to cook and sell from home,” she explained.
Her advice for up-and-coming entrepreneurs would be to work at your own pace as that will eventually lead to growth.
“Never put yourself under pressure just because someone else expects it.”
Wendy has two people assisting her in the kitchen, and seven people when she caters for events.
“Continue to push your business and remove yourself from individuals that look down on it. Keep a positive mindset,” she said.
Wendy added that starting a business from home can be daunting but one thing she has learnt is that there is help out there for everyone. “You just have to find that skill and passion within yourself. The number one ingredient people should have if they want to start a business from home is to have passion for their product if they want to make profit. Making your offering the best you can will speak volumes when selling to the public,” she said.
Find Wendy on Instagram (@thecookout_1) and Facebook (The Cook Out).
