Mdantsane born-and-bred celebrity chef Siba Mtongana scoops silver world medal at the 2019 New York Festival's TV and Film Awards
The Eastern Cape's very own Siba Mtongana has scooped yet another prestigious international award for her hit Food Network cooking show, Siba's Table: Sibalicious!
The Mdantsane-born and bred celebrity chef walked away with a silver world medal in Las Vegas at the 2019 New York Festival's TV and Film Awards and is ecstatic over her show's continued success.
"We are so excited and really honoured by this award, especially understanding how highly competitive the US market is," said Mtongana, 34.
"It takes an A team to put together a show like Siba's
Table from production company, crew members and support from Food Network to put together this amazing show."
Making its debut in South Africa in 2013, Siba's Table has since aired throughout Africa, Europe, Middle East the United Kingdom and the US.
Siba's Table was previously awarded four times in the US alone, taking home a myriad of international accolades since 2015, including two silver screen awards and two US film and television awards.
In 2017 Mtongana also received the award for the best international food show for Siba's Table in the film and TV category, gourmand world cookbook awards in China.
Mtongana said: "From a young age I've always known that I was going to be great and known one day. It was a strong feeling from inside but I never knew how and when, but I guess this has been a manifestation of destiny and purpose that God had for my life.
"It is truly humbling and something I'm always grateful to Him about. However, it comes with great responsibility as there are many people who look up to you."
Obtaining a degree in food and consumer sciences from the Cape Technikon after matriculating, Mtongana said that she always thought she was going to be a lawyer, but she was grateful that her parents allowed her to follow her heart.
"My mother made me fall in love with cooking.
"She was my first teacher in the kitchen and it was my time with her and her freestyle cooking that intrigued me," she said.
"My parents were against me following a career in food at first, but they have seen the results of that choice and have always been so supportive and happy for me and what I have achieved."
Well known for her original recipes and modern twists to traditional family meals, Mtongana strives to celebrate her roots while adding a global twist to her food. She said travelling was her biggest source of inspiration.
"It opens up one's mind to a whole new world but at the same time makes you appreciate what you have. Wherever I travel I make sure to try new dishes from that part of the world, but I always give my work a Sibalicious local flair," said Mtongana whose Mfino fritters with soy mayo and salmon are among her top favourite creations.
"To me it's not a job or career, but a calling, as I know what I'm doing goes beyond teaching people about food. The food is a vehicle, but I get to inspire people in many ways whether it's about being a woman of significance, an entrepreneur, a pioneer, a game-changer, wife, mother or someone courageous enough to break through boundaries that were hard to break."
