GET TO KNOW CULINARY PRINCESS LORNA MASEKO

After gracing our screens on Top Billing and taking viewers on foodie adventures on her hit show, The Hostess, South Africa’s ‘culinary princess’ has solidified her position in the entertainment industry, adding her own unique flavour to each endeavour she pursues.

---

Vibrance, grace and sophistication spring to mind as soon as Lorna Maseko’s name is mentioned. No surprise as she first shot to stardom as South Africa’s premiere black female ballet dancer and the first black ballerina to ever dance a principal role in a South African theatre. In 2010, she made her way onto the small screen, becoming one of the nation’s most celebrated TV personalities.

Through The Hostess with Lorna Maseko and Homegrown Tastes South Africa, Lorna has become a culinary icon with a knack for bringing people closer together through fun, food and an unmatched flair. Showcased in her cookbook, Celebrate with Lorna Maseko, she shares her love for travel, and showcases indulgent recipes for the entire family, while giving readers a celebratory look at the triumphs and milestones she’s garnered through the years. “This book is a love letter from me to you through food,” reads the cover, illustrating her love for her loyal audience.

“I was literally in tears when I touched it. It is a book as bright and bold as my personality,” she says. Lorna also gives a nod to her talk show, allowing readers to have a printed form of her beloved recipes. “I thought I would share some of my favourite recipes from The Hostess – well, at least the ones viewers loved the most,” she adds.

“I’m really grateful for my TV years as they’ve enhanced and made my food years even better.”

And she continues to shine. In 2020, she nabbed two Gourmand World Cookbook Awards, one for ‘Best Celebrity Chef Cookbook’ and the other for ‘Best International Cookbook’. Lorna is also a recent recipient of the 'Culinary Icon Award' by the Luxe Restaurant Awards. These are among the most prestigious awards recognised by culinary masters worldwide. It’s all about being passionate about what you do, she says.

Lorna attributes her dedication and success to ballet and her parents’ undying support. “I can’t believe I’m actually saying it’s the ballet because, when I left, I wanted nothing to do with it. But I think it’s learning the patience, the perseverance, the tenacity, and the wanting to be perfect”, she explains. “Ballet is a ‘perfect’ art form, or you’re at least trying to strive for perfection on a daily basis. And I think it’s those little traits that I learnt from nine years old that have built me to be the person I am today.” She is happy to be doing something that she loves each and every day. “When you do something, and you come out saying: ‘Yeah man! This is it man!’ It’s because you just love something so much. I’m really blessed that I started as a host. So, I understand the art of television... It has to be a show! I’m really grateful for my TV years as they’ve enhanced and made my food years even better!”

Aside from her travels and filming, Lorna has also played a big part in advocating for sustainable cooking in support of the United Nation’s Act Now climate and sustainability campaign, promoting the ‘Future 50 Foods’: 50 nutritious foods that are better for our health and for the planet. Growing up in Alexandra, one of the biggest townships in Johannesburg, the celebrity chef remembers feasting on what is now regarded as ‘superfoods’. She says: “Coming from one of the poorest townships in South Africa, it’s amazing how I’ve seen the Future 50 foods come back. I grew up with those beans – not necessarily with the mushrooms, but with some of the foods, and to see it come back and allow us to cook in a better way, and enjoy it in a better way, is absolutely amazing.”

A self-taught chef from humble beginnings, Lorna has paved the way for future female foodies across the globe, becoming a role model to those looking to enter the culinary arts. She also hosts quarterly interactive cooking seminars, Cooking with Lorna and Friends, geared towards liberating and empowering woman through food, which she hopes to continue in the coming years. “I’m enjoying reflecting on what I want to achieve, looking at my goals, looking at my family, and just being conscious about being a human on this earth – and trying to make more of a difference,” she says.

“Now that I’m getting older, I have become a lot more conscious about what I’m putting into my body and how that affects how I feel as well... At this very second, I’m really enjoying this journey of my life.”

“I have become a lot more conscious about what I’m putting in my body and how that affects how I feel as well.”

HER KITCHEN MUST-HAVES
A non-stick pan: makes the clean-up easier
A cast-iron pot: prepares food like a traditional potjie does
Spatulas: they just make my heart happy (I used to love wooden spoons)
Mini bowls: a professional way of holding chopped up ingredients, separately, as you work.
A tasting spoon: great for tasting your food as you cook
Sharp knives: good for slicing and chopping and easy to control

FAST FACTS
Star Sign: Cancer
Coffee or Tea? Definitely coffee
Pet peeve: Laziness
Favourite comfort food: A juicy burger or pepperoni pizza with extra cheese!
A guilty pleasure: I’m trying to eat less carbs, but definitely poke bowls or sushi
Big night out or big night in: Depends on what part of the world I’m in
Top tip: A good sauce can save any meal.

Follow her journey:

Instagram: @lornamaseko

Facebook: Lorna Maseko

Youtube: Lorna With a Pinch of Salt

Words: Charndré Emma Kippie

Photography: Courtesy/Instagram