Brought to you by Woolworths

Siba Mtongana needs no introduction. She is the brain behind a culinary megabrand that covers everything from cookbooks to TV shows to restaurants, and as the winner of this year’s Trailblazer Award at the 2023 Eat Out Woolworths Restaurant Awards, she has cemented her position in South Africa’s food industry. We chatted to Siba about her food journey and what shaped her into the powerhouse she is.

Siba’s story starts with an upbringing steeped in the love of food and nature. “My mother’s love for food was the initial spark, as well as my dad’s evergreen hands with his orchid-like backyard garden.” Despite this, Siba didn’t ever consider that food might be her calling. “Never in a million years did I ever think I would pursue food or cooking as a career as that was very much frowned upon.” Thankfully, it was her sister’s encouragement that propelled her towards a bachelor’s degree in Food Science and Nutrition, laying the foundation for her career.

Fast forward to today, and Siba’s empire is nothing short of impressive. In addition to her fine dining restaurant, Siba – The Restaurant, she’s the host of Siba’s Table, her own cooking show, and is a judge on the latest season of The Great South African Bake Off. She’s also just opened a deli at the brand-new Time Out Market in Cape Town. “Being a Harvard case study in 2020 was a great affirmation that my entrepreneurial acumen was going in the right direction and I should continue trusting my gut feel in making big decisions,” she says.

And while she’s definitely going in the right direction, the road to Siba’s success hasn’t always been seamless. Reflecting on pivotal career moments, she emphasises that the challenges she faced were centred on running a business and a team of people. “I call challenges learnings and have encountered many in different stages of my journey,” she says. She candidly shares that the fear of failure initially held her back. “Over time, I have come to learn that overthinking and being risk averse is an enemy of growth,” she says. “So now, once I have done enough homework and know enough about the new venture, prospects are great, and I have peace about it – I go for it – even if I still feel some form of fear.”

 

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Siba’s body of work sets her apart, stemming from a pursuit of excellence, genuine care for customers, and dedication to learning. “We believe ourselves to be market pioneers and industry leaders, innovators, disruptors, bridges that fill the gaps. We are quick to pivot when we see or foresee a need.” Through her TV show and cookbooks, Siba has celebrated South African food and continues to pave the way for others to do the same. “Ultimately, we want to be contributors to making our industry great and continuously growing,” she adds.

Siba with New Media CEO Aileen Lamb and Zyda Rylands, CEO Woolworths Food.

So, what advice does she have for anyone looking to follow in her footsteps? “It’s not as hard as it looks if you’re willing to work hard and commit to continuous learning. And to those who think it’s easy, understand it’s harder than it looks.” Her overarching message? Believe in yourself. “Believe you will succeed and you will! Just back yourself up!”

Siba’s story epitomises innovation and a passion for transforming the culinary landscape. Her dedication to the industry, as well as her craft, embodies the essence of a true trailblazer.

Click here to see the full list of winners for 2023!