Chit-chats with the fab foodie Zola Nene

Spreading her passion for cooking, chef Zola Nene is a joyful presence on the South African culinary landscape.

You might recognise her as the bubbly judge on The Tastemaster or cooking up a storm with our favourite stars on her TV show Celeb Feasts with Zola. She’s become a household name through her trio of cookbooks – Simply Delicious (2017), Simply Zola (2018) and Simply Seven Colours (2022), which have all been named ‘Best in the World’ at the Gourmand Cookbook Awards.

Starting her day at 7.30am, even on weekends, sitting through client meetings, editing and perfecting recipes and sticking to a precise schedule, Zola has come a long way from her days cooking in a brasserie in London. 

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR WORK? 

I strive to make cooking accessible and to share our food culture in the most uncomplicated and simple way. I also love exploring the similarities in our diverse food cultures in South Africa.  

My kitchen is my happy place, so spending time creating in the kitchen is where I thrive. I simply love being in my kitchen, experimenting with food at my own pace and in my own way. 

WHAT IS THE GREATEST LESSON YOU’VE LEARNED IN YOUR CAREER?

It has definitely been to maintain authenticity. There are always people trying to pull you in different directions in this industry, especially as the food space grows and changes.   

For me, what has given me longevity has been the authenticity of my own brand – even in growth, I don’t lose sight of my passion and vision when it comes to sharing my food story. 

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE DISHES? 

I love reimagining nostalgic or traditional dishes in different ways, giving a new spin on ‘old-school’ classics and making people remember how those dishes made them feel when they had them growing up.  

For example, every time I make something with mealie rice, I get so many comments from followers about how they’d forgotten about it and how their granny used to make it for them. I love conjuring up food memories. 

ANY WORDS OF ADVICE FOR ASPIRING CHEFS? 

Keep going, even when it’s tough. Keep pushing through and believe in yourself and what you’re doing. Always strive to keep learning and honing your craft – hard work and perseverance are the most important steps to achieve success.   

Above all, be your own biggest cheerleader. People around you will cast doubt on your dreams, but if you know your goals and believe in yourself, drown out the noise, stay focused and you’ll break your own glass ceiling! 

Photo: Supplied