Glenanda resident participates in Come Dine With Me South Africa
Episode 10, in which Vusi is featured, will be aired on May 13 at 8pm on BBC Brit (DStv channel 120).
VUSI Ndlovu, a resident of Glenanda, is a participant in the fifth season of Come Dine With Me South Africa and will be competing against fellow contestants – Jana Rau, from Alberton; Makho Manyoni, from Soweto; and Nontsi Jiyane from Suideroord, to see who will emerge the winner, and to walk away with the R10 000 prize money.
Episode 10, in which Vusi is featured, will be aired on May 13 at 8pm on BBC Brit (DStv channel 120).
Vusi grew up in Soweto, and comes from a poor background.
“Sometimes we really wouldn’t have enough things to make a meal, but my mom would just put things together and it would be an amazingly tasty meal. I took an interest in cooking from then. Seeing her work in the kitchen was just remarkable.”
Today Vusi is the head of controlling and reporting at Schindler Lifts. He is single and takes care of Tshepo, his 12-year-old brother, and Zano, his seven-year-old niece.
He has always loved cooking.
“I’ve always said if I wasn’t in finance, I’d want a career in the food industry. I followed my mom around when I was a little boy while she was cooking and baking.”
Vusi conjures up his own recipes, or sometimes takes an existing recipe and tailors it to a masterpiece.
To become a contestant on Come Dine With Me South Africa is not easy. This is Vusi’s third attempt.
“It just goes to show that you have to keep on trying and you will reach your dream.”
He had to fill in a general application form, send through photographs of himself, his house and his dining set-up. A telephonic interview followed, and an on-camera audition, where Vusi had to present his potential menus and answer various questions.
He soon received a call informing him he made it through to become one of the contestants on the show. He was super excited.
Vusi hosted the three other contestants in his house, which is full of vibrant colours, arts and crafts, serving as a relaxed setting where each guest could just be themselves.
When asked if he organised any entertainment, he laughs and says: “I was the entertainment.”
You can see this is true. Vusi is outgoing, relaxed, funny and one would expect an exceptional host.
“The evening was filled with chatter and laughter.”
Vusi served some bubbly as a welcoming drink, non-alcoholic and alcoholic, and followed it up with a mouth-watering three-course meal. It seems throughout his menu and drinks he took everyone’s needs in account.
Vusi’s menu consisted of the following:
Starters
Seared tuna and rice balls.
Main
Crispy duck, served with homemade noodles.
Dessert
Crêpes, with almond cream and berries.
Vegetarian menu option:
Starter
Arancini rice balls.
Main
Homemade noodles and haloumi.
Dessert
Crêpes, with almond cream and berries.
Vusi relished the overall experience: “I love hosting and I love meeting new people.”
The camera crew took over most of Vusi’s house as he spent the day preparing and cooking. “It made me quite nervous at first, but after some time you just get into it. It was a fantastic crew.”
Watch the show this coming Monday to witness Vusi’s night of hosting, and to find out if he is the winner. If you miss this exciting episode, it will be repeated the following Wednesday at 9pm and again on Saturday at 7pm on BBC Brit.
For free daily local news in the south, visit our sister newspapers Alberton Record, Comaro Chronicle, Southern Courier and Get it Joburg South Magazine.
Remember to visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. You can also email our offices on cvdwalt@caxton.co.za, juliem@caxton.co.za or luckyt@caxton.co.za
Get regular news updates sent directly to your inbox: Newsletter-Signup
