My journey with chocolate ….

It all started when I was 5 years old and I fell in love with food and told my Dad I wanted to become a chef, years later he told me:  “To make what I love my work!”

I managed  private dinner parties for my Mom`s friends in high school to make extra money, and when I had finished  high school I successfully landed a position as a chef  at the 5 star Michelangelo Hotel in Sandton .

I was given the opportunity to make chocolates and started out by making truffles and wedding cakes, then I got was offered the opportunity to work in in a boutique hotel in Scotland. This experience taught me about food and I worked with a menu that altered every day.

I returned to South Africa to peruse my entrepreneurial experience, at the young age of 22, when everything on the menu had chocolate in it.

All of this was done through my absolute passion for what I love most. I am a self-taught chef and most of my learnings are from reading many cooking books and watching cooking shows on TV.

In 2009 I opened a catering company called `A Thyme to Dine`. My career experience expanded to catering for Sir Richard Branson and I was tasked with making chocolates for him, as well as for Prince Charles.

In 2012 I started creating unique products for all foodies out there and due to my absolute love for chocolate, all the food I cooked contained chocolate.

In 2013 I was chosen to be one of 40 Chefs on Chopped South Africa. I proudly won my round with my main course as Guinea Fowl with Dark Chocolate – The judges where blown away!!

In 2017 I met Mark and Heidi and shared my passion for a healthy chocolate that tasted great and that stood out as unique, healthier and vegan with a twist of fun… Nova Chocolate was born!