A GREENWOOD Park chef has made her cullinary dreams come true after landing a spot at a top restaurant in uMhlanga.

For 21-year-old Amaara Sulaiman, cooking has always been something she is talented at. During Covid-19, when the world pretty much came to a standstill, Sulaiman used the time to think about what she really wanted to do with her life.

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“I have always had an interest in cooking. From a young age, I’ve been inspired by the delicious homemade meals that my mother and aunt used to prepare and by the cooking shows I watched on TV, intrigued by some of the exotic ingredients and the different styles and techniques used by the chefs to create outstanding-looking dishes,” she said.

“So when the lockdown restrictions were lifted, I decided to follow my dreams and passions, and in July 2021, I enrolled in a three-year Advanced Professional Chef programme at Capsicum Culinary Studio’s Durban campus. Fast forward a few years, and I am now at The Grill Room at the Oyster Box Hotel,” added Sulaiman.

At the end of her second year, Sulaiman and fellow student Lalana Pillay entered the RCL Young Chefs and Bakers Challenge and won an opportunity to represent KZN and their campus.

“I began the final year of my learning about international cuisines, and with the knowledge that I had gained at the school and at the Oyster Box, Lalana and I worked our way to the finals of the RCL Young Chefs and Bakers Challenge, where we competed and came second,” she said.

After completing her third year, Sulaiman was offered a job as a commis chef in The Grill Room.

“A typical day for me usually starts at 08:00. Coffee is my best friend for breakfast; it gets me through my day and gives me the start that I need. My days are set out for me because of the hours that I work. I look after my family in the morning, trying to make the best meals that I can for them, then by around noon, I’m ready for work. By 14:00, I’m ready for action in the kitchen, and I clock off at 22:00. Lunch is usually another coffee and a baked goodie or the occasional run to McDonald’s. Once I get home, I have a bowl of noodles, and I’m usually in bed by 01:30, ready to face the next day,” she said.

Her dreams don’t stop there – one day, Sulaiman hopes to own a cafe with a flower shop.

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