For pastry chef Tessa Benade, owner of The Culinary Loft at the World of Wellness in Rynfield, baking is not just a profession it’s pure joy dusted with flour and frosted with passion.
From the delicate layers of mille-feuille to the rich warmth of a chocolate tart, every creation tells a story of someone who has truly found her sweet spot in life.
In a kitchen filled with the aroma of butter and sugar, Tessa blends precision with creativity, proving that when you love what you do, every day feels like a treat.
“I always tease people that I don’t work. I play and think about food 24/7. I love what I do and do what I love,” she said.
Even with more than 15 years in the industry and having shared a kitchen with some of the country’s top chefs, the 35-year old still exudes the same passion she had when she first stepped foot at the 1000 Hills Chef School in Botha’s Hill years ago.
For her, food is therapeutic and offers a sense of grounding at times of uncertainty or stress. Beyond its physical nourishment, it always evokes nostalgic moments she shared with her family growing up in Scottburgh, in KZN.
“Food is awesome. It’s not only something you can build memories with. It feeds your soul and nourishes your body. It’s therapeutic.
“My earliest memory of food is baking scones with my grandfather when I was five. It’s still my favourite thing to make. It’s made me who I am. It’s grounded me. It always brings back something that sparks memories I had forgotten about,” Tessa said.
While a “roast with all trimmings and vegetables” whets her appetite, her favourite dish is samp and beans, which her family’s housekeeper used to prepare on cold or rainy days.
But when homesickness kicks in, the chef turns to her mother’s pasta dish – a dish that wraps her in the warmth of childhood memories.
“It brings so much joy into my heart and I like to share it with my three children.”
When Tessa is not baking up a storm for her husband and three children, she hosts cooking classes for children and adults at her establishment and also uses her talent to upskill others.
“I’ve always wanted to upskill domestic workers. I call them my helping hands because they are so much more than people who look after our homes. They are our right-hand men. A lot of people are emigrating and leaving their helpers behind. From this, they can start small businesses,” said Tessa.
She also recently assisted Yummy Bean Cafè’s Sandor Dowling and Joanne Fenn with their monthly Cupcakes of Hope initiative – a drive that raises funds to help those suffering from cancer.
“It’s amazing what they’ve done for families and children with cancer. They are real walking angels that take away the financial burden cancer unfortunately brings.”
Tessa firmly believes food has a power to unite. So, if she were to prepare a meal that would soothe our hearts in this tough economic times, what would it be?
“I’m going to go with ‘magwinya’ (fat cakes) and jam. It’s my favourite because it always makes people smile. Also a bunny chow because it’s more than just curry. It’s rich and diverse flavours brings all the cultures together to sit at a table and dissect the country’s politics.”
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