FOR Wentworth’s Candice Shari Rall Meth, the quiet sizzle of onions meeting a hot pan, the rich aroma of a curry permeating the air and the joyous sounds of laughter shared around a dinner table are not treasured experiences. They are profound moments that have propelled her food dreams to the television screens on MasterChef South Africa.

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Taking a leap of faith

Viewers from Durban South may notice a familiar face in the current season of MasterChef South Africa. Meth is competing for the coveted title, showcasing her culinary skills. Transitioning from her professional life as a nurse in hospital corridors to the intense cooking stations of the MasterChef kitchen was a move she thought carefully about and initially did not have the confidence to try.

“Cooking has always been more than just food to me. It’s where I feel closest to home, it’s where I feel closest to my mom. Losing her has been a harsh reality for me. There’s a quiet ache that never really leaves. But in the kitchen, something shifts. For a long time, that was a personal moment for me. Then my husband, Raylin, stepped in and completely changed the direction of this dream. He’s the one who kick-started this process. I hesitated, I doubted myself. But he believed in me in a way that’s steady and unwavering,” said Meth.

Honouring her family

Her love for food formed early in life. She fondly remembers her childhood, around the age of five, searching for mussels along the beach with her father and helping her mother prepare live chicken, moments she believes ignited her passion for cooking.

Walking into the MasterChef kitchen brought mixed emotions for Meth as she felt the immense weight of representing not only herself and her community but also honouring the memory of her mother, Kathy, who had competed on the show several years before. Carrying forward that heritage brought both significance and pressure to her cooking.

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Meth’s cooking guide

With these expectations, Meth felt confident her heritage and distinct style would allow her to stand out, not simply as a chef, but as a storyteller through food. She describes her cooking style as “ekasi fine dining with a passport”. Meth grew up enjoying honest, simple food which satisfied the stomach but also spoke to the soul, and she said that she was able to carry that throughout the show.

“My style is all about elevating the everyday without disrespecting it,” said Meth.

While the show focused on testing Meth’s abilities as a chef and caused her to think outside the box, she shared that her favourite dishes to cook and indulge still remain sheep head, tripe, braai and a curry.

A moment of pride

Meth said that being selected for MasterChef South Africa was a moment she will never forget.

“I remember the exact moment I found out. My heart was pounding so hard I could barely hear the words they were saying. It felt like time slowed down, like everything around me went quiet and loud at the same time. When it finally sank in that I’d made it onto the show, I just stood there in disbelief. The young me always felt like a misfit. I never quite felt like I fully belonged anywhere. So, standing in that moment, hearing that I had made it, felt bigger than just a personal win,” said Meth.

With the support of her family and community, Meth remains hopeful she can introduce South Africa to why she loves cooking.

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