MasterChef Deena to honour daughter

Johannesburg - Deena Naidoo is a sentimental chef.

The winner of MasterChef SA told Channel24 that his daughter has been his inspiration when it comes to thinking about names for his new restaurant.

The 45-year-old IT specialist - who told journalists on Tuesday that he is yet to resign from his IT job - wishes to name his restaurant Aarya, after his 10-year-old daughter.

"It's also a courteous way to address a woman in sanskrit, like "madame" in English," said the winning chef.

Naidoo was presented with R8m worth of prizes at a ceremony held at the MondoVino Restaurant at the Sun Square Hotel at Montecasino on Tuesday, after he was announced the winner of M-Net's reality cooking show.

His prizes include the opportunity to redesign and run the MondoVino restaurant in association with Tsogo Sun management for two years.

Naidoo's restaurant is set to open in November this year.