Deutsche Welle Don't hold back: say it loud!

From Soweto to the World Stage: How Chef Wandile cooked his way to the top

Loading player...
Chef Wandile Mabaso's hard shifts in the kitchen have taken him from coveted restaurants in the USA and France to cooking for world leaders in South Africa. Not bad for a man from Soweto whose peers once laughed at him taking cooking classes! Chef Wandile shares his recipe for success with Nozibele Qamngana-Mayaba on what it takes to be part of the 1% that makes it. We're in for a tasty episode!
00:00 The Grit Behind Success: Chef Wandile's Journey
01:03 Introducing Chef Wandile: A Culinary Star
01:29 The Snack Segment: A Surprising Choice
02:17 Breaking Stereotypes: Becoming a Chef Against Odds
04:22 Dreaming Big: From Soweto to Global Culinary Stages
07:17 Name Dropping: Cooking for Celebrities and World Leaders
10:47 Overcoming Challenges: The Hardships Behind the Glamour
14:49 Returning Home: Bringing Global Experience to South Africa
16:11 Rapid Fire Questions: Getting Personal with Chef Wandile
16:55 Exploring Culinary Skills and Presidential Preferences
17:15 A Call to the Finance Minister: A Culinary Intervention
17:49 The Basics Before the Challenge: Cooking Lessons
18:32 Guilty Pleasures and Underrated Ingredients
19:47 Advice for Aspiring Chefs: Patience, Vision, and Grit
22:29 Navigating Challenges and Embracing the Journey
24:40 The Power of Skills and Strategic Planning
28:03 Nostalgia and Comfort: The Story Behind McDonald's Chips
30:12 Reflecting on the Journey and Looking Ahead Catch up with our host Nozibele · More information about this podcast · The 77 Percent (DW Africa)
9 Apr 2024 English South Africa Society & Culture · Personal Journals

Other recent episodes

What is a healthy relationship with alcohol? (Clive Vanderwagen)

What's your relationship with alcohol? How do you know when drinking has become a problem rather than just a 'good time'? In a frank and honest discussion, Nozibele chats to Clive Vanderwagen - a motivational speaker, TEDx speaker and mindset coach - on everything from binge drinking to mindfulness to…
13 Jul 2022 30 min

Stop apologising for changing jobs! - Mzamo Masito

Google's CMO Africa, Mzamo Masito, went from fighting to make ends meet to being a South African captain of industry - but his journey is littered with battles and second-guessing. Not what you'd expect from a high-flying executive. He tells Nozibele Qamngana-Mayaba why young South Africans should NOT idolise Elon…
15 Nov 2023 40 min

Fighting back against an abusive relationship (Lona Bawuti)

How can you tell if you're in an abusive relationship? It may seem 'cute' when your lover always wants to be by your side. Until one day, they're physically dragging you away from a family event. "Everything had to be approved by him. All the time, all the time...and then…
6 Jul 2022 32 min

Take back control of your life! (Kagiso Msimango)

(Strong language advisory) Acclaimed author and energy healer Kagiso Msimango lays out how we can manage toxic relationships without hurting ourselves. She sits down with Don't Hold Back host Nozibele Qamngana Mayaba over the customary snack and reveals how we often still have control over our lives, even if all…
14 Sep 2022 33 min

Can Western psychology and traditional healing co-exist? (Anele Siswana)

How do we know what our calling is, and what do we listen for? Clinical psychologist and traditional healer Anele Siswana has had to answer this question many times over his remarkable, groundbreaking career. From combining both African traditional spirituality with Western clinical psychology, to almost becoming a Christian pastor…
9 Nov 2022 32 min
All episodes