but recreating her signature dish is not as easy as pie!
The third episode of MasterChef South Africa Season 5 is packed with delightful surprises, including a world-renowned guest judge and an ample serving of chaos and drama. Someone loses their cool, and even the medics are called in!
This must-see episode, probably the most eventful to date in the history of MasterChef South Africa, will be aired in its new home on S3 (formerly SABC) on Saturday, 27 July at 19:30. For those not able to catch this weekly MasterChef South Africa premiere, there is also a rebroadcast on SABC2 on Sunday, 28 July at 18:30, as well as on S3 on Wednesday, 31 July, at 18:00.
The season’s first guest judge is world-famous Chef Nokuthula “Nokx” Majozi. Shortly after completing culinary school, this Empangeni-born formidable chef was recruited (at the age of 21) to work at an African-inspired restaurant in Disney World. Thereafter, she moved to Miami before heading to London in 2002, where she created culinary magic in the kitchens of five-star hotels like the Intercontinental Park Lane, The Landmark, and Brown’s Hotel.
However, these jobs only marked the beginning of Chef Nokx’s illustrious career abroad. She found her niche at the renowned temple to the art of pie-making – the famous Pie Room at the Holborn Dining Room, situated within the luxurious Rosewood Hotel in London.
Everyone knows what a pie is, but for Chef Nokx, the Pie Room’s head pie-maker, it’s an art form. Her masterpieces are not only a feast for tastebuds. Their golden, glossy crusts are sculpted into precise patterns and laced with delicate finishing touches.
No wonder The Guardian hailed her as a “rising star” and the UK’s culinary industry organisation CODE named her one of the 100 Most Influential Women in Hospitality two years in a row. Furthermore, MIPD (Most Influential People of African Descent) has recognised her exceptional talent.
Still, the humble chef, who will inspire the Top 15 contestants this week, sees it as an honour to be part of MasterChef South Africa Season 5: “Masterchef is one of the best competitions, and I am proud that there is a South African version. I am truly grateful to the City of London for being my home base and giving me the necessary exposure to the rest of the world, but I want to give back to the country of my birth. This is a great opportunity to share my knowledge and skills with people from South Africa.”
In this week’s episode, Chef Nokx shares the recipe of her signature pie with the Top 15 contestants – a pepper steak pie, celebrating her South African roots but with British-inspired pastry. Thereafter, they have to recreate this culinary piece of art in a pressure test that will send one of them home.
It soon transpires that trying to match Chef Nokx is not as easy as pie. Who will crumble under the pressure? And who will impress judges Zola Nene, Katlego Mlambo and Justine Drake?
MasterChef South Africa Season 5 is proudly sponsored by Pick n Pay.