Every year, in partnership with Woolworths, we name one budding South African cook as the winner of the Woolworths TASTE Eat Out Bursary at the annual Eat Out Mercedes-Benz Restaurant Awards. This year that future chef is Bryan Mlotshwa, who will be trained at the Jackie Cameron School of Food & Wine in KwaZulu-Natal.

Bryan (right) with 2014 winner, Thozi Mgumane (left). Photo by Jan Ras.

Presented the award by previous winner, Thozi Mgumane, Bryan thanked his mother for her support and went on to say how much the bursary means to him. “It’s a life-changing opportunity for me. I cannot believe this. I just want to say thank you so much to all the people who made this happen.”

Bryan making his acceptance speech on-stage at the Eat Out Mercedes-Benz Restaurant Awards as a proud Thozi watches. Photo by Shavan Rahim.

The 24 year old currently works as a chef’s assistant at a golf club in Pietermaritzburg. However, as the sole breadwinner for his family, he couldn’t afford his dream of attending a culinary school.

We’re overjoyed to be able to help make this charismatic young man’s dream come true, especially since he shows such promise and willingness.

Eat Out editor Abigail Donnelly says, “Bryan showed such a deep-seated desire and hunger to be a qualified chef. Even in his off time, he cooks for friends and family to take pride in their happiness.”

Bryan with Eat Out editor Abigail Donnelly and chef Jackie Cameron. Photo by Jan Ras.

As for the future? Bryan sees himself as a qualified chef working for a top food distributor in South Africa.

We can’t wait to see where he goes from here.

Want to know what Thozi’s up to?

About the bursary

The Woolworths TASTE Eat Out Bursary offers a year of tuition to one worthy applicant at either Silwood Cookery School (Cape Town), Prue Leith Chef’s Academy (Centurion in Gauteng), or 18 months at the Jackie Cameron School of Food & Wine (Hilton, KwaZulu-Natal). Applications are open to all South African citizens over the age of 18. Ideally, they must have prior experience of working in a professional kitchen as a paid employee or intern.