TV personality, Chef Nti has taken Mzansi's taste to share with the people of Nigeria.
The Ready Steady Cook star has expanded her business and opened a second restaurant, Taste Abuja, in the capital, Abuja in Nigeria.
The chef, whose real name is Nthabiseng Ramaboa, spoke to Daily Sun about the new restaurant.
“I’ve been working in Nigeria since 2016, it’s just that people haven’t been aware of it. I’ve been consulting for different restaurants and some kitchens for different corporates," Chef Nti said.
“This particular hotel where I opened the restaurant, I started working with them in 2018. We then talked and I asked for an opportunity. They are in the hotel business. The collaboration made sense.”
She said people in Nigeria already have a favourite dish.
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“I’m taking South African flavours to Nigeria. I’m introducing them to our food and saying this is who we are. We're a diverse rainbow nation. In KZN, you get curries, in Cape Town, Cape Malay cuisine. So, I’m introducing them to who we are on a plate. It’s a fusion of Mediterranean and Asian as well.
“Nigerians like a meal called the naan bread tacos. I made tacos out of naan bread and they love it. We serve them with shisanyama and sides that are usually served in Mzansi. It’s flavours that talk about who we are as South Africans,” she said.
Chef Nti is back in Mzansi, for now. She's left South African chefs to run the restaurant in Nigeria.
“When we opened, we had South Africa's ambassador in Nigeria, His Excellency Mr Thamsanqa Mseleku, who came to support and congratulate us. It’s been a month since the opening. I’ve left two South African chefs to work at the restaurant. They're looking after it, but I’m still involved.
“I’m excited about the collaboration we’re doing with our ambassador over there. He recently visited the restaurant again, bringing South Africans. I’m also happy to be one of the people telling the beautiful South African story there.”
Chef Nti is one of the chefs who are currently on S3’s new cook show, Ready Steady Cook.
“It’s a format from the UK, Moshe is the host. There are two chefs cooking against each other and we have 20 minutes to make three dishes. It’s a really amazing show, you see a different side to us. It’s pressure we’ve never experienced before.”
