In the upcoming new season of MasterChef South Africa, the home cooks set to embark on a life-changing culinary journey will have to impress a food maestro who has cooked for high-profile dinner guests like Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Black Coffee, and Beyoncé and Jay-Z.
One of the coolest chefs in the country, Katlego Mlambo, will make his bow as MasterChef judge in the fifth local season of the sizzling cooking show to be screened on SABC 3. The other two members of the esteemed trio confirmed to guide and grill the contestants are seasoned MasterChef South Africa judges Zola Nene and Justine Drake.
Katlego’s own impressive food journey started when he witnessed an incredible love of food during his childhood. “My first four culinary mentors were the home cooks who raised me – my granny, mother and two aunts. My grandmother would whip up amazing dishes on Sundays, and I was absolutely enthralled by how basic ingredients could turn into the tastiest banana bread and scones,” Katlego explains. “So, I became this little sous chef in our home kitchen.”
Thereafter, the travel bug bit the Eldorado Park-born food fanatic, creating opportunities to master his craft at top restaurants across the world. With stints in international restaurants in Great Britain and the United States, Katlego soaked up the distinct food flavours from these regions.
Back home, he studied at the highly regarded Silwood School of Cookery and later raked in several prestigious accolades, including the 2019 Eat Out Nederburg Rising Star Award. That was also the year he jetted to Washington as appointed head chef for the Nelson Mandela Centenary Celebrations, hosted at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington. The event was attended by 500 of the most prominent leaders and celebrities in the world.
Katlego’s exceptional flair behind the pots and pans and unique food fusion also earned the jazz eatery Marabi Club the African Restaurant of The Year gong at the Luxe Awards. Furthermore, Katlego presented two television shows on the Food Network – Inside Job and Everyday Wow.
Still, this humble food guru, who briefly appeared as a guest judge in the previous season of MasterChef South Africa, says he had to pinch himself when hearing that he would be one of Season 5’s main judges: “It’s amazing to know that I will be part of a show that’s a global phenomenon. It’s proof that if you believe in something, see it and taste it, it can become a reality. Being a MasterChef judge was on my bucket list.”
Katlego confesses that he looks forward to being the one waiting to be served and not the other way around. “But even though I will be on the receiving end, tasting and judging the food whilst mentoring the contestants, I know I will also be inspired by their creations from ingredients in the Pick and Pay pantry. One can never stop learning, and I can’t wait to experience the variety of cuisine created by contestants from different South African backgrounds”.
If you’re as passionate about cooking as inspirational guru Katlego Mlambo, you’ll find the MasterChef South Africa Season 5 entry form at masterchefsa.tv. The closing date for entries is 15 March 2024 at 23:59.
The winner of MasterChef South Africa Season 5 will walk off with R1 million cash in prize money.
The show is produced by the multiple award-winning production company Homebrew Films for Primedia Studios, with Pick n Pay as the headline sponsor. It will be broadcast on SABC 3 from mid-June.
