FROM cooking humble homemade meals in her Wentworth home to cooking under the bright lights and pressure of the MasterChef South Africa kitchen, Candice Meth has captured the hearts of South Africans after finishing as runner-up in the popular cooking competition.

Also read: A Wentworth resident’s MasterChef SA journey

Meth stepped into the MasterChef kitchen with 19 other passionate home cooks, with the hopes of winning the grand prize of R1m. While she missed out on the title, the Wentworth cook said that she remains incredibly proud of her journey.

“I am incredibly proud of how far I came and of the way I represented not only myself, but the women, my community and everyone who dared to dream alongside me. When I walked through those doors, I never imagined I would make it to the final two. So, while there is obviously a little sadness that I didn’t take the title, I am overwhelmingly grateful for the journey, the growth and the privilege of being able to stand on that platform,” she said.

A journey of transformation

The Meth who walked into the kitchen in episode one was vastly different from the confident cook who stood proud in the finale.

“When I walked into that kitchen, I was a home cook, unrefined, nervous, but carrying a very quiet determination. I knew I had something in me, but I didn’t necessarily know how to express it on a plate yet. Looking back now, I’m filled with such pride when I see how much I grew. My heritage started speaking more confidently through my food. My flavours became bolder, my plating improved, and I began to understand that food is not just about making something taste good, it can tell a story,” she said.

Apart from this, Meth still believes the biggest transformation happened inside of her. A valuable lesson she had learnt is that you can be afraid and still manage to take on a task. “You can walk into a room wondering whether you belong there and eventually realise, actually, maybe I do,” she said.

MasterChef brought many challenges along the way, but the primary challenge for Meth was self-doubt, especially in the pressure tests.

Also read: Compli-mince to the chef

“They were incredibly tough, but I realise they were designed to teach us and ultimately push us towards excellence. That choux challenge will forever have a special place in my memory. It taught me something I will carry forever, a setback does not have to be the end of your story. When my first batch of choux failed, I could have thrown in the towel. But I didn’t, I started again and had I given up in that moment, I would never have made it to the top two,” she said.

Standout dishes

Some of Meth’s most memorable moments came through dishes that carried deep personal meaning. One of her favourites was her “Lucky Star” dish, that was inspired by the humble meal she would make during difficult financial times. 

“There was a season in our home when money was really tight, and a tin of fish was sometimes what we could afford. Add some onion, chilli, tomato and spices, and suddenly you had a delicious, nutritious meal that could feed your family. So being able to take something so humble and turn it into something worthy of the MasterChef kitchen was incredibly special to me,” she said.

Another memorable cook for her was her “Use Your Brain” dish, in which Meth recreated her childhood favourite of sheep’s head and managed to earn immunity.

The finale required contestants to create dishes, which showed personal growth and challenged their comfort zones as well as told a personal story. While Meth failed to win the championship, she is immensely proud of the final presentation made to the judges.

Love from the community

Now that the stoves have cooled and reality has returned to normalcy, Meth said that the most special part of the journey has been the fans.

Also read: Local chef passionate about empowering others

“It is almost impossible to explain what it feels like when someone walks up to you in a shopping centre, their face lights up, they give you the biggest hug or ask for a photograph and tell you what your journey meant to them. To experience that love, support and unity firsthand has genuinely changed me. I will treasure it for the rest of my life,” she said. 

What is next?

The question that remains on everyone’s mind is, what is next for the Wentworth MasterChef runner-up? Meth simply said there is a lot to come.

“I really want to use this platform to uplift communities, encourage people and make appearances where I can motivate others to step out, chase their dreams and share God’s word. I definitely want to write a cookbook, we have so many beautiful stories in our homes that are connected to food, and I would love to share some of our family’s recipes and stories. I am also still planning the logistics of creating intimate three-course dining experiences, evenings where the food tells a story and people feel like they are sitting around a table with family,” she said.

While she continues to ride the high of her journey, Meth encourages the community to not think “one day” but to start thinking “why not now”. 

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