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We have a quickie with <em>Masterchef SA</em> contestant Sipho Mdlankomo

Johannesburg – From the very first episode of Masterchef SA Siphokazi (Sipho) Mdlankomo made an impression.

The feisty 39-year-old domestic worker from Cape Town was ‘ready to kick some butt’ in the first challenge and she did just that. Thinking on her feet she turned out a perfect dish proving that she was a contender to watch.

In episode 3, she surprised both the judges and herself with her ostrich fillet with sweetcorn parcels and Pinotage jus and despite never having cooked or tasted ostrich, her dish was a winner.

Sipho is becoming a firm favourite with the judges and the public who have been expressing their overwhelming support for her all over social media.

We chatted to Sipho about her Masterchef SA experience so far, her love for cooking and her food dream.

A Channel24 quickie is a brief or spontaneous episode consisting of frisky questions in which celebs and Channel24 have a brief frolic leaving all parties involved feeling satisfied and craving a cigarette.



Channel24:
When did you start cooking?

Sipho:
I started cooking at the age of 10, but that wasn’t real cooking that was helping my mom out. In 2001 I moved to Cape Town and started working as a domestic worker, that’s when I really started cooking but even then it wasn’t ‘real’ cooking. And then I met Liz and when you meet someone who also loves cooking, you start gaining confidence.

Channel24:
Why did you decide to enter Masterchef?

Sipho:
I always wanted to enter Masterchef. I have entered cooking competitions before and I thought to myself, let me give it a try. I doubted whether or not I was good enough because this is a huge competition and it needs people who know what they’re doing in the kitchen. After I put all the nerves and doubts behind me I just decided to enter and show everyone what I’m made of.

Channel24:
How are you dealing with all the media and public attention and support?

Sipho:
I can’t believe I have such a lot of support. It’s very overwhelming. I go to Cavendish and people recognise me. They come up to me and tell me that they know me  and see me on  Masterchef and that I should go far.



Channel24:
Have you ever made a dish that flopped?

Sipho:
I’m very bad at baking! I tried making a lemon meringue when I wasn’t very experienced. I made the base and the filling but I didn’t whip the egg whites until they were stiff I just put it on top of the filling. It came out terrible.

Channel24:
What is your food dream?

Sipho:
I always wanted to be a professional chef and now that I’m in the Masterchef kitchen I’m starting to learn a few things about myself too, it’s not just about the cooking. I think that I’m good in front of the camera and it would be nice to have my own cooking show.  

Channel24:
What is the one tip you would give newbie cooks?

Sipho:
Don’t try to complicate things keep it simple. But remember simple must be perfect.



Catch Masterchef SA every Thursday at 19:30 on M-Net (101).

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