
Nandi Nkwanyana
@nandinkwanyana
Private chef at Chef Nandi creating client-tailored menus, cakes, platters and mini desserts.
What I'm looking for
At Chef Nandi (Private), I prepare breakfast, lunch and dinner for clients on a daily rotation, adapting menus to their requirements. I also make cakes, platters and mini desserts for celebrations and functions.
At Esiweni Safari Lodge, I planned menus with the kitchen team, organised mise en place across the cold, hot and pastry sections, and prepared and plated dishes to lodge standards. I also assisted with stock control and food costing, and supported kitchen staff during service.
My earlier experience includes producing Asian-inspired pastries and desserts at Iris Garden Coffee & Bakery, and bread and pastries at Fournos Bakery – Benmore. At 1000 Hills Chef School – Classroom Café, I rotated through kitchen sections and took on supervisory and management responsibilities.
Experience
Work history, roles, and key accomplishments
Personal Chef / Private Chef
Chef Nandi
Jun 2023 - Present (3 years 4 months)
Provides private-chef services including breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and prepares cakes, platters, and desserts for celebrations and events.
Junior Sous Chef
Esiweni Safari Lodge
Apr 2026 - Sep 2026 (5 months)
Planned and designed menus, conducted stock takes, and supervised kitchen staff to ensure efficient workflow and high standards of food quality and presentation.
Part-Time Event Chef
The Jerk Company
Aug 2023 - Dec 2024 (1 year 4 months)
Assisted the head chef during events and functions, preparing ingredients and dishes for Caribbean cuisine, and supported event setup and service.
Pastry Chef
Iris Garden Coffee & Bakery
Jun 2022 - Nov 2022 (5 months)
Prepared Asian desserts, pastries, and baked goods, decorated cakes, and managed stock and production for the shop and events.
Pastry Chef / Baker
Fournos Bakery
Feb 2022 - May 2022 (3 months)
Prepared fresh pastries and breads daily, maintained pastry displays, and ensured quality and sanitation standards.
Kitchen Assistant Chef
dweleven
Jan 2022 - Feb 2022 (1 month)
Completed an internship in a fine dining environment, assisting in hot, cold, and pastry departments with prep and service.
Chef de Partie / Head Chef / F&B Manager
1000 Hills Chef School
Feb 2020 - Dec 2021 (1 year 10 months)
Rotated through kitchen sections and progressed into supervisory and management roles, overseeing food production, staff training, and daily operations.
Culinary Student Training
Durban Country Club
Jun 2019 - Aug 2019 (2 months)
Prepared cold food presentations, main dishes, and sweet products for the restaurant, golfers, and events.
Bakery Student
Holdens Kwikspar
May 2019 - May 2019 (0 months)
Prepared bakery products including scones and a variety of homemade breads during a shadow week.
Education
Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework
1000 Hills Chef School
Advanced Diploma / Level 3 Food Preparation & Cookery Supervision, Culinary Arts
2020 - 2021
Completed an Advanced Diploma / Level 3 in Food Preparation & Cookery Supervision, along with diplomas in Culinary Arts, Patisserie, and Food & Beverage, and additional certifications.
Chefs Training Innovation Academy
Level 1 Certificate in Food Preparation & Cooking, Food Preparation & Cooking
2019 - 2019
Grade: Distinction
Earned a Level 1 Certificate in Food Preparation & Cooking with Distinction, and a Level 2 Food Safety in Catering certificate.
Tech stack
Software and tools used professionally
Availability
Location
Authorized to work in
Salary expectations
Job categories
Interested in hiring Nandi?
You can contact Nandi and 90k+ other talented remote workers on Himalayas.
Message NandiGet matched with your dream remote job
Sign up now and join over 250,000+ remote workers who receive personalized job alerts, curated job matches, and more for free!
