Smokey the Chef_
Bio
Smokey is the official Chef de Cuisine (Head Chef) of Pioneer Unit Records. A talented, driven and energetic entrepreneur in his own right, Smokey is also CEO of, Man In Cooking, a multi-faceted food entertainment company.
Born in Cape Town, South Africa, during the height of Apartheid in 1981, Smokey has always felt different from his peers. A self-confessed 'problem child', Smokey always questioned authority, wanting to learn by his own mistakes and making plenty of them.
At just age 2, Smokey went missing from his family. Luckily he was returned safely but this often repeated childhood story always made Smokey feel that he was a wanderer at heart.
Despite being raised in the Anglican Church and serving as an alter boy for many years, Smokey never felt any sense of spiritual belonging. However, he knew right from wrong and, as a young African boy, he always had a strong desire to explore his cultural values.
Smokey also never felt a sense of family belonging growing up in Kwa Langa, Zone 15. The household was full of cousins, aunts, uncles, brothers and sisters who were all active (and pre-occupied) PAC members. When Smokey's father went to study in exile, Smokey went to stay with his Grandmother in Guguletu where the dusty streets were alive with the sound of liberation songs and rebellion.
Smokey was rebelling in his own way and gave his Grandmother an extremely hard time, yet she showed him the love that he had never known. It was her cooking in particular that had a magical effect on him. Made with love and care, her food seemed to have extra special flavour that sparked what was to become his journey into the gastronomic world.
Smokey started teaching himself by reading and trying to copy recipes he saw in books. After a period of time formally studying electronic engineering and cosmetics, Smokey finally got his break when he embarked on an apprenticeship at the exclusive, Buitenverwachting Wine Farm Restaurant, studying under Head Chef, Edgar Osojnik. He conducted an intense three-year training program, which finished off with six months of theory at The Culinary Academy (TCA) Cape Town.
Smokey is an official member of South African Chefs Association. He established Man In Cooking in 2004 to deliver a variety of catering and entertainment services.
Booking Smokey the Chef
Contact Hardy: info (at) hitentertainment (dot) co (dot) za
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