Celebrity chef Nthabiseng Ramaboa, popularly known as Chef Nti, chats to us about entrepreneurship and her role as the host of e.tv cooking show The Perfect Ace.
By: Fundiswa Nkwanyana
1. I was born and raised in Soweto. My love for creating and indulging in delicious meals helped to shape my career. The thrill of turning an idea into a thriving business pushed me to be an entrepreneur who focuses on food and designing aprons.
2. The kitchen is my playground. When I am in the kitchen preparing meals, I love to look stylish, dance and sing along to my favourite music. For me, it’s more than just a job; it’s my passion. I also love interacting with my guests while cooking.
3. My recipes celebrate South Africa’s culinary heritage. I create meals that tell an authentic story about our beautiful country. It’s part of my narrative to share new ways of enjoying our traditional meals. Pap remains one of SA’s favourite meals and it has inspired many of my recipes, such as pap quiches, gnocchi, pizza and others.
4. My simple recipes also address everyday cooking challenges. I understand that many people do not have time to spend in the kitchen, so I create recipes that take under 40 minutes to make. Most people don’t have money to buy fancy ingredients, and I have come up with recipes that use simple everyday ingredients.
5. My advice to budding chefs is to stay true to yourself. Trust your unique skills and be ready to work hard. Just be yourself and follow your passion.
Catch Chef Nti on The Perfect Ace on e.tv on Sundays at 12pm. She also often cooks on the channel’s breakfast show Sunrise.
