Kamohelo Mathai
@kamohelomathai
Experienced Chef de Cuisine specializing in African, French, and Mexican cuisines.
LesothoWhat I'm looking for
I am an experienced Chef de Cuisine and private chef with a strong operations background in the food and beverage industry. I hold a Diploma in Hospitality Management and am pursuing a Higher Diploma in Culinary Arts while studying The Science of Cooking at Harvard University.
I specialize in African, French, and Mexican cuisines and am actively documenting Basotho cuisine. I have led kitchen teams as Head Chef and Senior Sous Chef, focusing on menu design, seasonal menu development, cost-efficient operations, and staff training.
My experience spans restaurant leadership, consulting, culinary instruction, pastry and bakery management, and freelance private chef services for bespoke events. I have delivered notable events such as the Abantu Heritage Harvesting Table with the Reef Hotel and Harvesting Heritage with Nederburg.
I bring strong skills in budgeting, menu planning, event management, team building, food safety, and the use of industry tools like Microsoft Office and Ikentoo POS. I am committed to high standards of hygiene, training, and creating memorable dining experiences.
Experience
Work history, roles, and key accomplishments
Head Chef
Cafe What
Jun 2024 - Present (1 year 3 months)
Lead kitchen operations, developed seasonal menus and cost-efficient processes, trained staff, and implemented hygiene and scheduling guidelines to ensure timely service and quality control.
Private Chef
Freelance Private Chef
Dec 2018 - Present (6 years 9 months)
Provide bespoke private dining services including client consultation, menu planning for dietary needs, ingredient sourcing, meal preparation, and adherence to food health and safety standards.
Consultant & Head Chef
Njays Family Restaurant
Sep 2023 - May 2024 (8 months)
Provided operational consulting and led menu development and staff training across guest houses and trading posts, improving kitchen efficiency and enforcing safety and hygiene standards.
Senior Sous Chef
Maliba Mountain Lodge
Mar 2023 - Sep 2023 (6 months)
Assisted in menu creation and implementation, supervised kitchen operations in the senior chef's absence, managed inventory and supply orders, and trained junior staff to maintain service standards.
Culinary Instructor
Honey Bee Culinary Institute
May 2022 - Jan 2023 (8 months)
Taught culinary techniques and knife skills, designed lesson plans and menus, evaluated student progress, and researched food trends to keep curriculum current.
Pastry Chef & Bistro Head
Everyday Cakes & Bistro Maseru
Jul 2021 - Aug 2022 (1 year 1 month)
Managed pastry and bistro operations, produced pastries and novelty cakes, controlled ingredient inventory and procurement, and supervised staff to maintain presentation and safety standards.
Education
Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework
HUHarvard University
Certificate, Food Science
2020 -
Enrolled in The Science of Cooking online program starting October 2020 and currently studying the course.
ISInternational Hotel School
Higher Diploma in Culinary Arts, Culinary Arts
2020 -
Pursuing a Higher Diploma in Culinary Arts, enrolled February 2020 and currently in progress.
ALAlison
Diploma in Hospitality Management, Hospitality Management
2024 - 2024
Completed a Diploma in Hospitality Management through Alison in April 2024.
UBUniversity of California, Berkeley
Certificate, Wine Tasting & Sensory Analysis
2022 - 2022
Completed a Wine Tasting & Sensory Techniques program between February and November 2022.
Worldchefs Academy
Pre-Commis Chef Certificate, Culinary Arts
2021 - 2021
Completed the Pre-Commis Chef program in March 2021.
ALAlison
Diploma in Food Safety, Food Safety
2020 - 2021
Completed a Diploma in Food Safety between November 2020 and February 2021.
ALAlison
Certificate, Food Safety and Hygiene
2020 - 2021
Completed a Food Safety and Hygiene in the Catering Industry course between November 2020 and February 2021.
BUBocconi University
Certificate, Food & Beverage Management
2018 - 2019
Completed a Food & Beverage Management program between November 2018 and June 2019.
Prue Leith Chefs Academy
Certificate, Menu Planning & Plating
2018 - 2018
Completed a Certificate in Menu Planning & Plating Trends in February 2018.
Alliance Française de Maseru
DELF A2, French Language
2016 - 2016
Obtained DELF A2 certification in April 2016.
NLNational University of Lesotho
Bachelor of Laws (LLB) & Bachelor of Arts, Law; Linguistics & English
2010 - 2016
Pursued a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics & English Language and Literature from August 2010 to May 2016.
Cambridge Overseas Senior Certificate
Cambridge Overseas Senior Certificate, Secondary Education
2004 - 2009
Completed the Cambridge Overseas Senior Certificate between 2004 and 2009.
Availability
Location
LesothoAuthorized to work in
Job categories
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