The series, which debuts on Tuesday, 12 November at 19:30 on SABC 3, will follow judges Zola Nene and Gregory Czarnecki (with host Harmony Katulondi) as they put eight finalists through a series of challenges, with the lowest scoring contestant eliminated each week until one is awarded the title of The Taste Master.

The judges

Celebrity and author Zola Nene is best known as the resident chef on the SABC 3 breakfast show, Expresso. Zola says she understands the ins and outs of creating the perfect, TV-ready plate.

Meanwhile, Gregory Czarnecki, who has worked at several Michelin-starred restaurants in Paris, is currently the executive chef at The Restaurant at Waterkloof in Somerset West, which recently won a Top 10 award in the Eat Out Mercedes Benz Awards.

The contestants

Meet the eight finalists who will be battling it out for the coveted spot:

Boitumelo 'ChewMe' Mogoai

32-year-old Boitumelo Mogoai is the director and executive chef of ChewMe Food. Mogoai says she fell in love with food when she was 11 years old and started experimenting in the kitchen not long after that.

The first dish she ever tried to make was ox liver and she recalls getting it completely wrong after deciding to boil instead of grill the liver. Mogoai says she hopes to impress the judges with her ability to take simple ingredients and make them ‘pop’.

"I'm excited to see what challenges lie ahead on The Taste Master and find out how we will be tested," Boitumelo says. "I know the end goal is to eventually become the resident chef on Afternoon Express, but I’m also looking forward to the actual journey — and hopefully making some new friends along the way."

Imtiyaaz Hart

Imtiyaaz Hart (28) is a media coordinator and a barman at a bar in Cape Town. Hart says he has always been passionate about food and recalls many fond memories in the kitchen with his grandmother.

"I would always ask if I could help her with her samoosas or pies and, on occasion, she would let me mix the ingredients for chocolate cakes and lamingtons," Imtiyaaz adds. 

"I can’t wait to learn more about food and share my experience with foodies who can relate to my love of cooking. I want the world to know that even though you didn't become a chef or attend a culinary school, you can still be confident with your self-taught cooking skills," he says. 

Alex Torrão

Marketing executive Alex Torrão says he fell in love with food while growing up in a small farming town in Portugal. The 34-year-old recalls spending time with his grandmother in the kitchen where she would make the family’s favourite dishes.

He later moved to Macau and 'fell in love with street food culture'. After making his way to South Africa, Torrão says he was inspired to open up a food truck of his own and his business has been thriving ever since.

Now, he aims to take his passion for food to the next level by participating on the debut season of The Taste Master. "I want to inspire South Africans to be adventurous with their cooking and not be intimidated by crazy recipes. For me, it’s all about simplicity, and I can’t wait to show off that side of myself on the show." 

Charmaine Ramalope-Makhubela

Charmaine Ramalope-Makhubela is the founder of Glam Foodie, a recipe developer, a digital content creator and an event architect.

The 35-year-old says that she 'fell in love' with food at an early age and is looking forward to showcasing her skills on the debut season of The Taste Master.

"I'm looking forward to sharing my passion for food and cooking on such a big platform. I’m excited about meeting new people who have a common love for food, and I look forward sharing what promises to be an amazing experience with fellow foodies and chefs. I love being able to take an old recipe and interpret it as my own, and I can’t wait to show off what I got on the show." 

Chaba Mokake

Chaba Mokake (32) is a private chef, DJ and event host who, through Mafikeng Hotel School, had the opportunity to go to the United States, where he worked under a popular pastry chef and expanded his knowledge.

Mokake says he is ready to take the next step in his career and hopes to inspire people through a platform like Afternoon Express. 

"I admire both Gregory Czarnecki and Zola Nene, so cooking for them is a dream come true," Chaba says. "I can’t wait to show the country what I am made of."

MacDonald Maepa Satikge

MacDonald Maepa Satikge is a private chef who says he is hoping his flair and technical abilities will help him become The Taste Master. The 28-year-old developed an interest in food when he was 10, cooking fish and pancakes with his grandmother.

MacDonald says that he is famous for bold colours and interesting flavours when it comes to his dishes and is looking forward to offering viewers at home a unique experience when it comes to his food.

"I'm really looking forward to the different challenges on The Taste Master," MacDonald says. "Not only will it give me the opportunity to prove to myself what I am capable of, but I hope it will inspire people to try something different."

Masego Marite

Masego says that food is something that means a lot to her, and creating dishes is always a special experience for the 29-year-old. Masego says she hopes to bring something different to the competition.

"I would say I have a farm-style cooking technique," she adds. "I love working with fresh ingredients and serving something unique for my family and friends. I am also passionate about creating delicious, healthy options with fresh ingredients and proving that healthy eating doesn’t necessarily mean bland food."

Nikara Ramdial

Nikara Ramdial (23) is the youngest contestant this season. Nikara is a sport management honours graduate and currently works as a marketing manager and admin assistant at a service station in Kwazulu Natal.

"I look forward to growing as a foodie and increasing my culinary knowledge on The Taste Master, as I know it is a never-ending learning experience," Nikara says. "I also hope to share my love for food and inspire others to use the kitchen as much as I do — and there is no better platform to achieve that than Afternoon Express."

Estee Burger, marketing manager, Stella Artiois, says, "Through The Taste Master platform, Stella Artois aims to create desire for our premium European lager by familiarising audiences with the concept of 'meal occasions' and encourage them to Start with a Stella.:

"Through their audition videos, the eight contestants have proved that they have the tenacity to become the ultimate foodie, and we are excited to see them grow through the series in the coming weeks," Burger concludes.

The Taste Master premieres on Tuesday, 12 November at 19:30 on SABC 3.



For more information, visit www.thetastemaster.co.za. You can also follow The Taste Master on Facebook, Twitter or on Instagram.