Sam joined the Londolozi Kitchen family in November last year and has been a delight to welcome into the team. Sam’s commitment to our Simply Sophisticated ethos and gentle presence have helped her to fit right in.
Sam Deyzel, Londolozi’s newest chef.
Q: Sam, tell us a little about where you grew up?
A: I was born in Kimberly (Northern Cape). We then moved to Bloemfontein (Free state) where I attended high school at Sentraal High and then pursued my dreams of becoming a chef at FBI (Food and Beverage Institute) chef school, where I qualified in 2015.
Q: What made you want to become a chef?
A: My passion for food started at home, where at a very young age I would watch my parents cook dinner and overload them with questions like, “why do we add oil to the pasta water?” or “why does an egg white go white when cooked?”.
Food started to fascinate me and I started making dinner so that I could play with flavours and colour, experiment and make the food we knew into something exciting.
When the time came for me to choose school subjects, I knew I wanted to go into the hotel industry. At that stage I was not a hundred percent sure whether I wanted to become an event planner, chef or hotel manager. After a year and a half of studies I had to complete a thousand hours of practical work in a kitchen. Yes a thousand hours!!! You quickly realise that a thousand hours in chef language is not a lot. I did my hours at Radisson Blu hotel in Port Elizabeth. As a chef you are expected to work long hours on your feet, so in a short period of five months my thousand hours was complete.
Sam photographed with her new teammates, Virginia, Thoko and Connie.
Q: What would you say is your favourite style of food?
A: My favourite style of cooking is classical French and fine dining. Being at Londolozi for the past five months, I have since discovered another style of cooking that I now enjoy. I am still a young chef hungry to learn and work my way to the top.
Q: In the short time you have to relax in the afternoons, what are your favourite things to do?
A: My hobbies include drawing or sketching, reading and planning of small events.
Sam with Executive Chef, Anna Ridgewell.
Q: What quote would you say most suits your ambition?
A: Mark Twain once said: “Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”
Q: What is your ultimate dream?
A: One day I want to own restaurant and get a Michelin star.
Lovely to learn your story, Sam. Bob & I can already attest to your wonderful cooking! Continued success!
A nice background story Sam. Am sure you will enjoy your time at Londolozi – there are some really beautiful people there and they have a great philosophy. All the very best to you.
Good luck Sam, you couldn’t find a better team to join, look forward to meeting you one day soon.
Congratulations Sam! We look forward to meeting you on our next visit! You could not be with a better team – anywhere!