HALL of FAME
Silwood graduates have done South Africa proud, in local and international kitchens. A definite indication that Silwood is making its mark in the work place. Alicia and Carianne Wilkinson travel extensively to visit Silwood graduates working in top international restaurants around the world, bringing back the latest food trends.
James Gaag
Head Chef - La Colombe
Graduate of 2011
@chef_james_gaag
James is the executive chef of SA’s No 1 EAT OUT award winning restaurant, La Colombe. He has been nominated for The Best Chef in the World Awards 2022. He is also a co-owner of La Petite Colombe, Pier, The Waterside, Protégé and Epice.
James worked under Raymond Blanc at Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons in the UK after graduating from Silwood.
La Colombe achievements:
- Eat Out No 1 Restaurant 2019
- World’s 50 Best (81st) 2021
- Trip Advisor – Best Fine Dining Restaurant in the World (13th) 2021
- Trip Advisor – Best Fine Dining Restaurant in Africa 2021
- World Culinary Awards – Best Restaurant in Africa 2021
Katlego Mlambo
Celebrity Chef
Graduate of 2011
@i_amkatlego
Award Winning TV Chef with 2 Food Network cooking shows under his belt, The Inside Job and Everyday Wow with Chef Katlego.
Katlego won the 2019 Eat Out Nederburg Rising Star Award and the Best Pop Up Experience at the 4th Annual Luxe Restaurant Awards.
Katlego honed his skills working for both the La Colombe and The Test Kitchen groups. He then made a name for himself as head chef at Marabi Jazz Club and is now moving to London as head chef of Kudu Restaurant.
John Norris-Rodgers
Head Chef - Pier Restaurant
Graduate of 2012
Rogers @johnnorrisrogers
Opening Head Chef of the award winning La Petit Colombe Restaurant in Franschhoek. Now the newly appointed Head Chef of Pier Restaurant at the V&A Waterfront. Previously Head Chef of La Colombe Restaurant, Constantia.
Restaurant achievements:
La Petit Colombe:
- Trip Advisor – Best Fine Dining Restaurant, Africa, Runner up 2021
- Trip Advisor – Traveler’s Choice 2020
- 50 Best Discovery – 2019
Pier:
- Best New Restaurant at Lux Awards (after only being open for 3 months)
Tyron Gentry
Head chef - The Test Kitchen Carbon
Graduate of 2017
@chef_gentry
Previously, Senior Sous chef under Luke Dale-Roberts of the multi award-winning restaurant, The Test Kitchen Cape Town. Tyron now takes on role of Head Chef at the newly opened The Test Kitchen Carbon. Tyron also worked under Michelin Star chef, Jan Hendrick at his Restaurant Jan in Nice, France.
Charné Sampson
Head Chef - Epice
Graduate of 2016
@chef_charne_sampson
Charné Sampson is one of the youngest 2021 Top 10 Women Chefs, and heads up the Indian inspired, flavour-filled Epice Restaurant at Le Quartier Francais in Franschhoek, which is one of a number of restaurants in the La Colombe Restaurant Group.
Epice achievements:
- World Culinary Awards – Best New Restaurant in Africa 2021
Annalize Buchanan & Ollie Swart
Caterers - Annalize Catering
Graduates of 1988 & 2013
@annalizebuchanan & @chefollie
Annalize Catering, South Africa’s most sought-after caterers. This graduate team are the chosen caterers for high-end events and the country’s elite.
Tracy-Leigh Gaag
Chef - Owner, Four & Twenty Café
Graduate of 2008
@fourandtwentycafe
Tracy is a force to be reckoned with. With a calm and elegant, yet intelligible manner she has navigated her way from Silwood graduate to founder and owner of two branches of a successful and recognised food business, the award winning Four & Twenty Cafe.
Nerita Bharuth
Product Developer
Graduate of 2011
@07nerita
Nerita was a recipient of the Woolworths Taste Bursary. She has made a name for herself in product development and meal solutions, currently working for Pick ‘n Pay.
Roxie Mudie
Head Chef - Waterside Restaurant
Graduate of 2016
@roxymudie
Opening head chef of the new Waterside restaurant at the V&A Waterfront, part of the award winning La Colombe Group. Previously Roxy was Sous Chef of the esteemed Protégé in Franschoek.
Matt van den Berg
Head Sous Chef - La Petite Colombe Owner - How Bao Now
Graduate of 2018
@matt_vdbcpt
Top graduate of 2019. Matt moved from The Test Kitchen to the La Colombe Group. Another Silwood entrepreneur having opened his award winning How Bao Now during lock down, winner of Street Food Experience of the Year at the 2022 Lux Awards
Lisa Clark
Food Stylist
Graduate of 1997
@food_styling_with_lisa_clark
Renowned South African food stylist and cook book author.
Jacques Grove
Head Chef - The Bailey
Graduate of 2019
@justdoingjacques
Jacques can be found at the helm of The Bailey’s state-of-the art kitchens, Liam Tomlin’s Three-in-One Culinary Destination on Bree.
Robert Garlick
Pastry Chef
Graduate of 2003
@robbiegarlick
Robert worked at Heston Blumenthal’s The Fat Duck and multi-award winning Dinner Restaurant. He then moved to Raymond Blanc’s famous Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons and works as Group pastry chef for D.Ream Dogus Restaurant in Turkey. Robert also cooks for the rich and famous on the seas on the Med.
Ruth Hinks
Chocolatier
Graduate of 1993
@ruthhinks
UK World Chocolate Master, TV judge for Hairy Bikers Chocolate Challenge. Another Silwood entrepreneur with her award-winning, Cocoa Black Shop & Chocolate School situated in the Scottish Borders, visited by celebrities, royals and blissed-out chocolate lovers from around the world.
Kerry Kilpin
Head Chef - Bistro 1682 & Tryn
Graduate of 2003
@kerrykilpin
Kerry started her food career working under La Colombe founder, Chef Franck Dangereux and later at The Foodbarn.
She is now Head Chef of Steenberg’s Bistro Sixteen82 and Tryn Restaurants
Lehlohonolo Tlhapuletsa
Yacht Chef
Graduate of 2009
Hloni works as a yacht chef, travelling to exotic locations between the Med and the Caribbean.
Matthew Tordoff
Product Developer - Woolworths
Graduate of 2012
@mrtordoff
Matthew honed his skills at Raymond Blanc‘s famous Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons and then at Heston Blumenthal’s multi-award winning Dinner Restaurant before joining the Woolworths Team as product developer.
Angie Steel
Owner of Angie's Little Food Shop
Graduate of 2000
Angie spent 8 years working with Gordon Ramsay. In 2010 Angie was Executive Head Chef of The Recipe when they won UK Caterer of the Year. She then branched into teaching before launching her very own, Angie’s Little Food Shop, encompassing everything she loves about food and lifestyle.
Talya Prince
T.S. Prince and Co Bespoke chefs items
Graduate of 2006
Talya worked at at La Colombe and The Foodbarn under chef Franck Dangereux.be In 2009 she moved to the UK to work at Le Gavroche under Michel Roux. In 2011 she moved to the The Fat Duck . In 2013 she opened T.S. Prince and Co Bespoke chefs items
Sarah Hunter
Yacht Chef
Jonathan Gargan
Executive chef at Cape Point Vineyard
Graduate of 2003
He previously worked as Executive chef at Ellerman House and Executive chef at Cape Royale
http://www.capetownetc.com/food-and-drink/take-easy-cape-point-vineyards/
Kirsty Rowett
Experiential food marker and owner of Source Management
Graduate of 2000
Jeanri van der Watt
Yacht Chef
Graduate of 2009
Glenda Philp
Head of Brand Communications for Food at Woolworths
Graduate of 1990
Jodi-Ann Pearton
Founder of The Food Design Agency
Graduate of 2003
Founder of The Food Design Agency – a world renowned creative food business focusing on new product development, food styling and photography.
Nik Tonglet
Owner De Houtloods in Netherlands
Graduate of 2012
Went from the kitchen of Luke Dale-Roberts no 1 restaurant, The Test Kitchen, to running Luke’s The Pot Luck Club pop up in Switzerland. He then headed to Copenhagen to work at, the then San Pelligrino no 1 restaurant, Noma, under René Redzepi. Nik now heads up his own restaurant, De Houtloods in Netherlands.
Kate Marek
Sous Chef at at Google Head Office London
Graduate of 2002
Kate went on to be the Private Chef for Formula 1racing team, Sous Chef at Lexington Catering before taking up the position of Sous Chef at at Google Head Office London.
Rosie While
Product developer Marks & Spencers UK
Graduate 2012
Went straight from 3rd year at Silwood into a product developer position at Marks & Spencers UK
Sandra Nobre
Celebrity Chef
Graduate of 2013
Sandra has her own cookery show on Fox Television airing in Portugal, Angola and Mozambique
http://www.24kitchen.pt/chefs/sandra-nobre
Mischa de Winter
Owner of catering business Senses Fine Foods
Graduate of 2001
Mischa is working for the oldest cookery school in Holland called La Cuisine Franchise Amsterdam and runs his own catering business Senses Fine Foods.
Fay Clark
Head of New Product development at Woolworths
Graduate of 2000