Local chef passionate about empowering others
"We can still reinvent ourselves and I believe everyone is blessed with a passion,"
DRIVEN by passion and a love for cooking, a former Wentworth resident has turned her dream into a reality by becoming a pastry chef and a proud owner of her own culinary school.
Chef Fatima Stanley was bitten by the baking bug when she did home economics in school. Thus, at the tender age of 16 she knew exactly what she wanted to do in the future. “I felt so free when I baked or cooked, it allowed me to be inventive and creative. I love taking a normal recipe and changing it, creating something spectacular.
I love how food is displayed as I always believed we eat with our eyes first. It gives me so much joy,” said Stanley.
With a number of accolades under her belt, from working as a professional chef in South Africa’s five star hotels, namely Beverley Hills Hotel, Cape Sun Hotel and The Royal Hotel, to being the principal, executive chef and lecturer at various culinary chef schools such as ICESA Hotel and Catering School, Capsicum Culinary Arts Studio, Zen Africa Chef Academy and the International Hotel School, she has now opened her own culinary school in Bluff at the Eco park.
“I have completed my national higher certificate in hspitality management from ML Sultan and City and Guilds advanced diploma in food and culinary arts, I have an MBA post graduate Diploma from Mancosa, and I am a registered facilitator, assessor and moderator and City and Guilds verifier in the hospitality sector. I am currently the external moderator for the wholesale and retail Seta and the internal moderator for Jackie Cameron School of Food and Wine,” she said proudly.
Her wealth of information and skills has allowed Fatima to become a member and the secretary of the South African Chefs Association as well as an accredited SACA Judge. She has and continues to judge many prestigious culinary competitions in KZN and is a member of the Chaine Des Rotisseurs. She is a member of the technical working group team liaising with the QCTO and the Department of Education on the new chef qualification. “This is very exciting news for the hospitality industry as it will help standardise what will be taught in all chef schools and upgrade the calibre of potential chefs going into the Industry,” she said.
“I have been involved with the national youth chefs training programme (NYCTP) with the Department of Tourism since its inception and have seen many learners grow and aspire to be excellent chefs, working in some of SA top hotels and establishments,” she added.
Her goal is to now impart her 20 years of knowledge to the community through her culinary school. “I try to empower those who come through my doors. Besides teaching them about baking and cooking, I also give them advice on business and consistency. I love talking to my students about personal development and how important it is to not think you are too old to try new things. We can still reinvent ourselves and I believe everyone is blessed with a passion,” she said.
She advises aspiring cooks and chefs to do a teaching diploma as well because getting into the industry is difficult. “Give yourself more room to grow. By gaining a teaching diploma, you can help others by teaching them what you know. It’s a learning experience on both sides. When people come to my classes to train I allow them to promote themselves and encourage them to support each other’s ideas and businesses,” she added.
She credits her mother for giving her the skills when she had to cook for her big family. “It all began when I watched and learned from her, which piqued my interest to take up home economics in school. She also credits local and international chefs for fuelling her passion. She featured in many Erica Platter books where her recipes were published. “In the future I would like to publish my own recipe book which will also serve as a motivational read for aspiring chefs. My goal is to inspire and empower the community through my craft,” she added.
For more information on Fatima and her classes contact her on 079-5711-747/031-4670419 or email –Â fatimastanley@webmail.co.za
