UMHLANGA resident Calvin Silson has secured a spot in the top nine of MasterChef South Africa, impressing judges and viewers alike with his Italian-inspired cooking style, love for seafood and passion for simple, quality ingredients.

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Raised in Durban in a close-knit Italian household, Silson says some of his fondest memories were formed in the kitchen alongside his mother and grandmother.

“Food was always about togetherness in our family. I remember watching my mom and grandmother cook with so much passion and attention to detail. It taught me the importance of preparing food properly and respecting tradition,” he said.

From a young age, Silson learnt how to make homemade pasta and sausages from scratch. Those early lessons shaped not only his cooking skills but also his approach to life in the kitchen.

“Cooking is trial and error. Not everything works perfectly the first time, but every attempt teaches you something new and helps you improve,” he said. “It definitely taught me patience and the value of putting time and care into good food.”

Although deeply rooted in Italian traditions, Silson enjoys experimenting with flavours and adding his own creative touch to dishes. Inspired by renowned chefs such as Massimo Bottura and Gordon Ramsay, he says cooking evolved from family tradition into a genuine passion.

“I think tradition is incredibly important, but you should also trust your own palate and not be afraid to try new things. Sometimes unexpected flavour combinations just work.”

Seafood remains one of his greatest culinary loves, with his crab bisque standing out as one of his signature dishes.

“Seafood is versatile and nutritious. There’s nothing better than a seafood platter with lots of lemon and butter on a Sunday afternoon,” he laughed.

Silson’s cooking philosophy is centred on simplicity, something he believes is key to creating memorable dishes.

“In cooking there’s a rule called K.I.S.S — keep it simple. If you use quality ingredients and let them speak for themselves, you can’t go wrong.”

His love for fire cooking also comes naturally. Having learnt to braai from a young age, Silson says cooking over wood or charcoal remains one of his favourite ways to prepare food.

“There’s nothing like the smell of meat hitting the grill and getting that perfect char from an open flame,” he said.

Reflecting on his journey in the competition so far, Silson described the experience as life-changing.

“MasterChef South Africa has taught me the importance of balance and seasoning in food, but it has also shown me what I’m capable of as a person,” he said.

Outside the competition kitchen, Silson’s comfort food is a lamb and cabbage bunny chow from Goundens Restaurant, while his dream after the show is to open a food truck as a side business.

Known among friends and family for his braai skills and laidback approach in the kitchen, Silson says one phrase sums him up best: “Please try this and let me know if it tastes good.”

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