Maxine Maart from Elsies River in Cape Town may only be in her first year of culinary school but she is already making waves on the culinary scene.
Maart – who is currently doing the foundational cookery programme at the Cape Town campus of Capsicum Culinary Studio (CCS) – took part in her first ever cookery competition and was awarded second place in the Young Chefs Challenge 2025 and received R40 000 for her efforts. The top spot went to another CCS student, Johannesburg’s Unami Binda who won R80 000.
Says Maart: “Growing up I enjoyed helping my mother run her fast food business and this sparked a curiosity that evolved into a love for cooking and sharing delicious food with others. I began experimenting in the kitchen, trying out different recipes and exploring different flavours.”
She said she decided to enrol at Capsicum because of its industry reputation: “What I am studying is the perfect starter stepping stone for me but I don’t believe that my studies with the school will end with this programme. They offer many other courses that will allow me to grow and become the best I can be.”
Maart said she was both nervous and excited to take part in the contest: “I grew up watching cookery shows and competitions so this was a dream come true. I was determined not to overthink it and become overwhelmed, but rather to cook from the heart and show the judges just what I was capable of.”
She says she had to prepare two dishes in the competition: “For the starter round, I prepared a samosa stuffed with sweet potatoes and spinach and served on a pea purée. My main course was a sautéed chicken breast on a bed of potato mash and served with a mushroom sauce. I had to pivot and change my main course on the day due to a shortage of ingredients but I still made it work because that is what chefs do and I was proud of what I served the judges in the end. It was an incredible learning experience.
“I was speechless when I heard my name announced as first runner-up. I only wished that my parents could have been there to see me but I know they were incredibly proud.”
Maart says she would like to study further and also plans “to travel and learn more about different cultures and cuisines.
“In five years’ time I would love to run my own food business. It’s a big dream but I believe that if you work hard enough at something, dreams do come true.”
—
Want to learn more about culinary careers at Capsicum? Then diarise Capsicum Culinary Studio’s forthcoming Open Days happening on September 27, October 25 and November 29 which will take place between 09h00 and 12h00 at each of the school’s seven campuses located at:
- Boksburg: Unit 6, Bartlett Lake Office Park, Cnr Leith and Trichardts Roads
- Cape Town: 358 Victoria Rd, Salt River
- Durban: 300 Granada Square, 16 Chartwell Dr, Umhlanga Rocks.
- Johannesburg: 3 Keyes Ave, Rosebank.
- Nelson Mandela Bay: 1 Newmarket Rd, Greenacres, Gqeberha.
- Pretoria: Menlyn Square, South Building, 134 Aramist Ave, Waterkloof Glen.
- Ruimsig, Roodepoort: Block D, 144 Peter Road.
For more details contact: chef@capsicumcooking.co.za; telephone 086 111 2433 or visit capsicumcooking.com.
Social media
- Facebook: capsicumcooking
- Instagram: capsicumcooking
- YouTube: Capsicumcooking
- LinkedIn: capsicum-culinary-studio