Alumnus: Alison Greenlees

The Queen of Tarts: Alison Greenlees’ Sweet Journey to Success.

Pastry chef Alison Greenlees has always known the kitchen was her happy place. From licking spoons as a toddler to mastering the art of patisserie, baking has been a lifelong passion. Now 24 and living in Sandbaai, Alison is the pastry chef at Hame, a popular restaurant and whisky bar in Hermanus, and she’s quickly earning a reputation as the Queen of Tarts.

Originally from Johannesburg, Alison studied at Capsicum Culinary Studio in Rosebank, graduating top of her class in 2022 and winning the “Spirit of Capsicum” award. Her love for pastry only deepened as she explored everything from bread and cakes to chocolate and sugar work. “It showed me how much more I could do if I let my creativity run wild,” she says.

After working in restaurants and running her own catering business, she moved to Zastron in the Free State, where she trained kitchen staff at a hotel, helped open a boutique shop, and mentored culinary students. She also began teaching baking workshops, including a popular cookie-decorating course focused on royal icing.

Now at Hame, Alison maintains the restaurant’s cake table, dessert menu, and coffee shop bakes, including, of course, her signature tarts. “There’s something magical about a good tart,” she says. “From buttery pastry to unique flavour combinations and elegant finishes, the possibilities are endless.”

Looking ahead, Alison dreams of opening her own bakery and teaching studio, combining her love for pastry with her passion for sharing knowledge. “Baking can be calming and creative - a place of joy. I want others to experience that too.”

With talent, heart, and a tart in hand, Alison Greenlees is well on her way to becoming South Africa’s next big name in pastry.