The Midlands, as it’s commonly referred to, is a nice getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life. wineries
, spas and scenery straight out of a Hollywood movie. I’ve always had a soft spot for that part of the world. I caught up with a young chef, who is the head chef at Granny Mouse Country House & Spa in Balgowan, at the foothills of the Drakensberg mountains.Lebo Mpuang, who was born in Cape Town but lived in Johannesburg for most of her life, graduated from Capsicum Culinary Studio in 2014.
After graduation, the 31-year-old Mpuang travelled the world to look for work opportunities. She’s worked at the Hilton Group Hotels Double Tree in Guangzhou, China, among other places. Back home she started a catering and private chef business, worked with ambassadors and worked as a brand ambassador for Whirlpool SA and Kitchen Aid.
In 2019, chef Lebo opened her own private cooking studio in Maboneng, Johannesburg, where she offered her clients cooking classes and intimate five star dining experiences. Unfortunately due to Covid-19, Mpuang was forced to shut down her business. She then relocated to Durban in 2021 and found a job at a hospitality firm assisting them with kitchen design, the building thereof, as well as menu formulation, cost development and procedure structure for three UKZN canteen restaurants.Why did you decide to become a chef? What sets Durban apart in the culinary sector?Butter. It makes everything taste better.