Chef

Chef
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Chef: Jo-Andri Pretorius

Jo-Andri Pretorius works as a sous chef in Windhoek. Being allowed to prepare dinner and small meals at home sparked her passion for food at a tender age. She did not grow up in a home where the family cooked up a storm but being allowed to play around with different ingredients allowed her to fall in love with food.
As a sous chef her daily tasks are to oversee if everything is done prior to the opening hours of the business, starting from the cleaners to the assistant chefs. “Sometimes I take the day-to-day task of the head chef if he isn’t around,” she says. “Growing up I always wanted to become a pastry chef, but enrolling at a culinary school and with broad syllabus I decided to specialise in everything to be well-equipped for whatever opportunity comes.
Having a dream as a child and going into college took a total U-turn,” she says.
After school she decided to pursue a career in this industry and she enrolled at Prue Leith's Chefs Academy.
After 18 months of heaven on earth in the industry that she loves, cooking, tasting and being creative, she graduated and went into the last months of interning. After graduating, her first job was at Taste Kitchen and later she continued putting her skills to test and worked in Cape Town before she crossed over the border to Namibia.
Pretorius says that the industry allows you to be who you are, and her current employer is allowing her to showcase her talent and creativity.
“Climbing the ladder to the top in this industry is very challenging, therefore, sacrifices, dedication and hard work is fairly important. My dream is to open a fine, fine, fine dining restaurant with well-equipped chefs that are passionate,” she says.
She says that being creative is one thing but passion makes one succeed in every aspect of your life.