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.
Graduate of 2011
James Gaag
Head Chef - La Colombe
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
Graduate of 2011
Katlego Mlambo
Celebrity Chef
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.
Graduate of 2012
John Norris-Rodgers
Head Chef - Pier Restaurant
Woolworths Eat Out CHEF OF THE YEAR 2022… 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)
Graduate of 2017
Tyron Gentry
Head chef - The Test Kitchen Carbon
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.
Graduate of 2016
Charné Sampson
Head Chef - Epice
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
Graduates of 1988 & 2013
Annalize Buchanan
& Ollie Swart
Caterers - Annalize Catering
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
Graduate of 2008
Tracy-Leigh Gaag
Chef - Owner, Four & Twenty Café
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.
Graduate of 2011
Nerita Bharuth
Product Developer
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.
Graduate of 2016
Roxie Mudie
Head Chef - Waterside Restaurant
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.
Graduate of 2018
Matt van den Berg
Head Sous Chef - La Petite Colombe Owner - How Bao Now
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
Graduate of 2019
Jacques Grove
Head Chef - The Bailey
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.
Graduate of 2003
Robert Garlick
Pastry Chef
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.
Graduate of 1993
Ruth Hinks
Chocolatier
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.
Graduate of 2003
Kerry Kilpin
Head Chef - Bistro 1682 & Tryn
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
Graduate of 2009
Lehlohonolo Tlhapuletsa
Yacht Chef
Hloni works as a yacht chef, travelling to exotic locations between the Med and the Caribbean.
Graduate of 2012
Matthew Tordoff
Product Developer - Woolworths
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.
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
Graduate of 2000
Angie Steel
Owner of Angie's Little Food Shop
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.
Graduate of 2006
Talya Prince
T.S. Prince and Co Bespoke chefs items
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
Graduate of 2003
Jonathan Gargan
Executive chef at Cape Point Vineyard
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/
Graduate of 1990
Glenda Philp
Head of Brand Communications for Food at Woolworths
Graduate of 2003
Jodi-Ann Pearton
Founder of The Food Design Agency
Founder of The Food Design Agency – a world renowned creative food business focusing on new product development, food styling and photography.
Graduate of 2000
Kirsty Rowett
Experiential food marker and owner of Source Management
Graduate of 2009
Jeanri van der Watt
Yacht Chef
Graduate of 2015
Sarah Hunter
Yacht Chef
Graduate of 2000
Fay Clark
Head of New Product development at Woolworths
Graduate of 2012
Nik Tonglet
Owner De Houtloods in Netherlands
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.
Graduate of 2002
Kate Marek
Sous Chef at at Google Head Office London
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.
Graduate 2012
Rosie While
Product developer Marks & Spencers UK
Went straight from 3rd year at Silwood into a product developer position at Marks & Spencers UK
Graduate of 2013
Sandra Nobre
Celebrity Chef
Sandra has her own cookery show on Fox Television airing in Portugal, Angola and Mozambique
http://www.24kitchen.pt/chefs/sandra-nobre
Graduate of 2001
Mischa de Winter
Owner of catering business Senses Fine Foods
Mischa is working for the oldest cookery school in Holland called La Cuisine Franchise Amsterdam and runs his own catering business Senses Fine Foods.