For some, cooking is a chore. For others, it’s an art. But for Chef Lindelwa Mthembu, it’s a calling – one that has carried her from family gatherings in KwaZulu-Natal to the heart of Pretoria’s food scene. She’s a proud entrepreneur, mother, and mentor, proving that passion, perseverance and purpose can blend into the perfect recipe for success.
Raised in Pietermaritzburg by her grandmother, while her mother worked away from home, Mthembu’s earliest memories are steeped in the aromas of traditional home-cooked meals.
“Cooking was never something I decided on one day,” she recalls. “It grew with me, and over a decade of hosting family events, it gave me the confidence to turn my passion into a career.”
That slow-simmering passion eventually turned into something remarkable. In 2013, Mthembu and her husband moved their family to Menlyn, Pretoria. It was there, years later, that she decided to formalise her lifelong love for food. Inspired by what she saw on television and guided by curiosity, she enrolled at Capsicum Culinary Studio in 2022.
“I had always known about Capsicum from television, and when I did my research, I found their programmes were exactly what I was looking for – comprehensive, professional and inspiring.”
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A perfect start
By 2023, she had graduated, ready to face the heat of professional kitchens. Her first opportunity came from one of her lecturers, who invited her to work at Oko Oko Lifestyle. “It was the perfect start,” she says. “I began as an assistant chef, but soon I was opening the restaurant in the morning and preparing breakfasts on my own.”
From that point, her culinary journey gathered momentum. She joined What About Us, a catering company that handles VIP lounges at rugby and soccer matches, as well as corporate and international events.
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“It was intense but rewarding, and the pressure taught me discipline and teamwork,” she recalls. Her determination soon earned her the title of VIP Lounge Chef Team Leader, a proud milestone that reflected her growing skill and leadership.
Next came a stint with Kitchen Kings, where she honed her event management and corporate catering skills under the mentorship of Chef Kelly Njokweni of Braai Master South Africa. “Every person I have worked with has had a hand in shaping my craft and business mindset,” she says.
A family affair: Chef Lindy takes flight
With experience, education, and unshakable determination, Mthembu took the leap into entrepreneurship and launched her own company, Chef Lindy. What started as a humble “ghost kitchen” from her residential complex quickly transformed into a thriving brand offering event catering, private chef services and daily meal deliveries.
“Starting small was necessary. I had limited resources, but I had vision. I used social media to market my food, and soon people started ordering daily.” Today, her first employee is also her daughter, Xolelwa, 23, who works alongside her as executive chef. Together, they’ve turned Chef Lindy into a family-run culinary force to be reckoned with.
Running a business, however, means wearing many hats. “My day starts early and ends late. I do everything from preparing menus to running deliveries,” Mthembu says. Despite her packed schedule, she keeps her own meals simple – usually one or two balanced dishes rich in protein, fibre and vegetables.
Her kitchen staples? Dijon mustard, garlic, tomatoes, pickles and milk. “Garlic is my go-to. It’s flavour and medicine in one,” she laughs.
Looking ahead, Mthembu dreams of expanding her company into a larger operation with multiple chefs who share her passion. “I want to create opportunities for others, just like I had when I started,” she says. Yet, her humility shines through: “There’s still so much I want to master – like cutting onions properly!”
Her favourite dish is fish, grilled or deep-fried, and her dream guest list includes President Cyril Ramaphosa, minister Angie Motshekga, Tall Ass Mo, Uncle Waffles and her culinary hero, Jamie Oliver. “He’s creative, down-to-earth and inspiring – everything a chef should be,” she says. For them, she’d prepare “a fusion of global cuisines with an African twist.”
From her grandmother’s kitchen in Maritzburg to her bustling catering business in Pretoria, Mthembu’s story is one of passion, heart and transformation.
“People love my food because I put my heart into it,” she says with pride. “When someone enjoys what I’ve made, that’s the best reward. That’s when I know I’m living my dream.”
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