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Durban-born Chef Nokuthula (Nokx) Majozi returns to KZN on Tuesday, 11 August for an exclusive four-hands dinner at The LivingRoom at Summerhill Guest Estate, where she'll join acclaimed Chef Johannes Richter to celebrate the launch of The South African Cookbook.
It's a fitting homecoming for a chef whose story began right here in KwaZulu-Natal.
Originally from eSikhawini in northern KZN, Nokx later moved to nearby KwaDlangezwa before studying Hospitality Management at the Durban University of Technology.
After graduating, she started her career at Riverside Hotel in Durban before landing what would become a life-changing opportunity - being selected as one of just three South African chefs recruited by Disney World in Florida.
"They were opening an African resort and recruiting chefs from across Africa," she recalls. "I was cooking South African food for guests from around the world, and it was an incredible experience."
That opportunity sparked an international career spanning France and, ultimately, London, where she has spent the past 24 years refining her craft. Today she's Chef in Residence at Fallow, one of London's celebrated dining destinations.
Alongside her work in the kitchen, Nokx has a natural on-screen presence, featuring on Sunday Brunch and Saturday Kitchen with James Martin, where her warm and engaging style has earned her a big following.
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Taking South African food to the world
Despite building an impressive international career, South Africa has always remained at the heart of Nokx's cooking. Her newly released cookbook was inspired by something she noticed while travelling.
"I travelled around the world as a chef and realised there weren't many books talking about South African food. People know our wines, but they don't really know our food. That inspired me to write this book."
She says the book is about far more than recipes: "I wanted to introduce our culture, our diversity and tell our story through food."
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A menu inspired by KwaZulu-Natal
Her return to Durban is also about celebrating the flavours that shaped her. Guests can expect a six-course collaboration featuring three dishes by Chef Johannes Richter and three by Chef Nokx, paired with wines or non-alcoholic beverages from The LivingRoom.
For Nokx, the evening is deeply personal: “I wanted to celebrate the food I grew up eating, but also show how we can innovate with simple, local ingredients. Every dish at Summerhill reminded me of how beautiful Durban is and of my childhood.”
Her favourite local flavours?
"Bunny chow, samosas, sugar cane, pineapples, seafood, amadumbe, traditional sweetcorn…" she says, although the list may well go on!
Breaking barriers in the kitchen
Professional kitchens have traditionally been male-dominated spaces, and Nokx says women entering the industry still face challenges.
"People see chefs on television and think it's easy, but it isn't. You have to be prepared, passionate and stand your ground."
She encourages aspiring female chefs to trust themselves and never lose sight of their goals: “Know what your dream is and why you're doing it. Push yourself, get experience while you're in South Africa and learn about your own culture and food. When you travel overseas, that's what people want to know. Home is always home — it's your identity.”
What you need to know
A KZN Homecoming with Chef Nokx Majozi & Chef Johannes Richter
- Date: Tuesday, 11 August
- Time: 6pm for 6.30pm
- Venue: The LivingRoom, Summerhill Guest Estate, Durban
- Book: Dineplan
- Includes: Six-course collaborative dinner | Wine or non-alcoholic pairing | Signed copy of The South African Cookbook
From here, Chef Nokx is heading to Johannesburg for her book launch at Exclusive Books in Rosebank on 12 August, before a collaboration with Chef Moses at Gigi Restaurant on 14 August. She ends her South African tour on 22 August in Cape Town at Cape Grace Hotel on 25 August before returning to London.
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