Alumnus: Zanele van Zyl

Meet author and entrepreneur Chef Zanele van Zyl.

“My interest in food and cooking began at a young age, growing up in a home where food was central to family gatherings and culture. Watching my elders cook with passion and care inspired me to follow this path professionally,” says Chef Zanele van Zyl, the author of three acclaimed cookbooks.

Forty-five-year-old Van Zyl, who is the mother to two girls, says her culinary journey started in 2012 when she was on maternity leave from her job as an IT technician: “I fell in love with cooking and made the decision three years later to launch a second career after attending culinary school.”

She chose Capsicum to do a diploma in cooking and food preparation.

“Capsicum had a reputation for excellence and offered a practical, hands-on approach to culinary training. I wanted to learn from the best as I knew the school could help turn my passion into a profession and it did! Attending Capsicum gave me the technical foundation I needed, and from there I worked hard to establish myself in the food industry. Today, I’m proud to be a well-known South African chef, cookbook author and food influencer – sharing my passion with a wider audience every day.”

Her entrepreneurial nature following graduation led her to start the Cooking With Zanele classes where she continues to teach and share her passion for food with keen foodies in different kitchens across the country. She also decided to publish a cookbook so that those who were unable to attend a class could still access her food which she describes as “relatable and tasty”: “I have always made every effort to make the recipes fuss-free. My specialty is modern South African cuisine – putting a contemporary spin on traditional dishes while staying true to their roots.”

To date she has published three cookbooks, the second of which Cooking with Zanele Volume 2 Find Joy in Cooking won the Cookbook of the Year award at the Luxe Restaurant Awards. Her latest offering is Senidlile Kodwa? which is taken from the isiZulu phrase, which means “have you eaten yet?”