Franco Buys tells us more about his food journey.

Meet Chef Franco Buys, an award-winning local chef with a passion for good food.

If you joined us at the Homemakers Fair earlier this year, you would have seen him in action in our Air Fryer theatre, and you’ll know just how great he is.

We sat down with him and got into the details of what inspires him, what he loves eating, and what his views are on Marmite (it’s a nope!).

When asked about the journey that brought him into the Kitchen and cemented his place in the South African Culinary landscape, he credits his childhood and spending time in his grandparents’ farm as a schoolboy.

“For as long as I can remember, I’ve always loved eating food. My childhood on my grandparents’ farm in Polokwane also moulded a lot of my journey and showed me firsthand what farm to table really means and where our food comes from.”

He has had immense international experience and enjoyed his time working on a more personal level with his clients.

“I’ve done a bit of everything during my time abroad – From being a personal butler, catering to heads of state in some of the top hotels in Qatar and Seychelles, to catering for our SA ambassador and his guests.

He has also worked in one of Johannesburg’s elite luxury hotels, Four Seasons The Westcliff. Furthermore, he has experience in fine dining, banqueting, and delicatessen as well as artisanal local specialities.

“Two of my greatest culinary experiences were working alongside Italian Michelin Star chef Massimiliano Musso in his first Pop up in SA held at the Four Seasons, & being named Winner of the My Food Story Executive Chef Culinary Tour to Wisconsin 2023.”

Apart from his wealth of hands-on experience, he also boasts 2 diplomas as part of his formal training. One in Hotel Management, and one in Professional Cookery.

His food philosophy is simple, “Cook with all your heart and feed your soul”.

He draws inspiration from international celebrity chefs, including Gordan Ramsey, Jamie Oliver and Neil Anthony.

When asked if he is the chef at home as well as at work, he answers emphatically:

“Absolutely yes, it’s not just my career it really is my passion.”

As much as he appreciates the revolution in food culture on social media, he dislikes certain trends.

“I feel the overrated trend currently, is the Instagram over the top, fancy and expensive charcuterie, harvest table and cake trends.”

His one major food related Pet Peeve is when food is wasted. (We agree with you chef!)

When it comes to the South African culinary landscape and recent developments he is optimistic when he says “South Africa has always been a mash up of so many different cultures that literally we can only go from strength to strength, always learning, growing but most importantly remembering where we started.”

He wishes that more Home Cooks understood that cooking needs to be more than just a daily chore. “I am very much in love with my current personal chef journey. Something that I find quite often with home cooks it that they lose their creativity in the kitchen because food becomes a daily chore, rather than a fun experience.”

As for the hospitality industry, young chefs and living his dream:

“There is so many chefs & cooks out there eager to share their love & passion with others. (Like me…)”

Just because he is a chef, doesn’t mean he is fussy when it comes to his own meals.

For breakfast he keeps it classic…

“Honestly, give me buttered toast, sunny side eggs, bacon, sausage, grilled mushroom & a roasted tomato & I can take on the world! (after a much-needed power nap, of course!).

But for dinner its all about the Braai!

“ Braai chicken wings with a sticky glaze and a braaibroodtjie (Not even loadshedding can stop me from making this epic feast!)

Rapid fire:

Coffee or tea?

Coffee

Marmite or Bovril?

Neither

Beach or bush?

Beach so I can fish…

Late nights or Sunrises?

Late Nights

It was a joy to speak to chef Franco and we hope to see much more of him in future!