Zola Nene talks money, MasterChef and her journey to becoming SA's favourite celebrity chef

Stephen Grootes speaks to Zola Nene, celebrity chef.

Listen to the interview in the audio player below. 

Zola Nene has fast become a household name in South Africa, gracing our TV screens in cooking and baking shows such as MasterChef South Africa and the Great South African Bake Off.

Not only is she a celebrity TV chef, but also a multi-award-winning cookbook author.

Nene always knew she had a knack for cooking and baking, but it only dawned on her much later on that her skills in the kitchen could be a potential career opportunity.

Following a short stint working in the UK, Nene returned to South Africa where she graduated from the Institute of Culinary Arts in Stellenbosch, before taking up a position with a catering company in Johannesburg. 

She's been on our TV screens for well over a decade now, first joining the Expresso Morning Show where she was the resident chef from 2010-2017.

But the highlights of her TV career have been as a judge on MasterChef South Africa and the Great South African Bake Off.

Speaking to Stephen Grootes on The Money Show, she shared anecdotes of her journey from culinary school, to South Africa's favourite TV chef. 

"...I've been really fortunate in that I've chosen to align myself with different shows, certain shows and certain brands."

- Zola Nene, celebrity chef

"The kitchen is a therapeutic place. Finding that silence and drowning out the noise is an important part of the craft."

- Zola Nene, celebrity chef

"It is a job for me, but I'm lucky that the lines have blurred from job to leisure. I do have to stay conscience of the fact that I'm doing what I love, even though it is paying the bills, it is my job."

- Zola Nene, celebrity chef

Scroll to the top of the article to listen to the full interview.