Mogau Seshoene known as "The Lazy Makoti" pursues her passion for food by simplifying and modernizing African cuisine. The trained chef brings her food to the world through social media, TV, cooking classes, and of course her cookbook.
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00:00 (upbeat music)
00:02 - How is this chef keeping culture alive
00:06 and bringing new excitement to local cuisine?
00:09 - So every South African will know what seven colors is.
00:13 It's something we traditionally have almost every Sunday.
00:17 You have to have those seven colors on that plate.
00:20 A delicious, beautiful plate that's vibrant.
00:23 After we've made these lamb chops,
00:25 we're gonna make a nice basting sauce with pineapple.
00:28 Then we're gonna serve it with a pineapple salsa.
00:30 So think about those colors, you know, the yellows.
00:33 I'm gonna add some peppers in there.
00:35 So it's gonna be nice and colorful.
00:37 The person that I feel I'm really talking to
00:40 is obviously the person living in the city
00:42 that doesn't have a whole lot of time to make these foods,
00:46 wants to learn how to make them simpler, easier,
00:50 therefore making them more accessible
00:51 'cause who has an entire day to cook?
00:55 - Award-winning cookbook author and trained chef,
00:58 Mokhao Sishweni, started a business in 2014
01:03 after she left her corporate job
01:05 to focus on a passion for food.
01:07 Now she is simplifying and modernizing local cuisine,
01:11 bringing recipes to her large following on social media
01:15 through cooking classes and her cookbooks,
01:18 all under the name, The Lazy Makoti.
01:20 - Well, the story behind The Lazy Makoti
01:25 is a few years ago, what feels like a lifetime ago,
01:29 I was an auditor working in corporate
01:32 and a friend of mine asked that I teach her how to cook.
01:35 And she specifically wanted to learn
01:37 to make traditional food to impress her in-laws.
01:40 And I remember that she would say the whole time,
01:43 "I wanna impress them
01:44 'cause I don't wanna be called The Lazy Makoti."
01:47 I mean, I thought that was funny and witty
01:48 and just so South African,
01:49 like everybody's gonna get it once they hear the name.
01:52 And when I decided to go to culinary school
01:54 and turn it into a business, I kept the name.
01:57 My love for food really began in my mother's kitchen.
02:04 My mother is an incredible cook and even better baker.
02:08 So growing up, helping her out in the kitchen
02:11 really ignited a real love for cooking.
02:13 And then cooking with my grandma as well was really special.
02:16 She taught me to make a lot of things.
02:18 So yeah, I'm from a family that really loves food
02:21 and really loves cooking.
02:22 Throughout my career,
02:23 I knew that what I really wanted to do was to teach,
02:26 was to share all of these recipes
02:29 so that we are able to keep them for future generations.
02:31 I knew that I wanted to become a chef
02:34 but not be stuck in an industry kitchen.
02:36 That's not really where my passions were.
02:39 I really wanted to get a chance to share
02:41 what it is that I know
02:43 to make cooking simple and accessible.
02:46 My fondest memory of the cooking classes is,
02:49 you know, when someone comes in
02:50 and they really believe that they'll never be able to cook.
02:53 And then by the end of the class, you know,
02:55 they're the ones really confident
02:57 about their abilities in the kitchen.
02:59 That always brings a smile to my face.
03:01 For Mokhao, food is a celebration.
03:05 There's joy in preparing and sharing food
03:08 that you enjoyed growing up.
03:10 While not always your typical
03:12 traditional-looking African dishes,
03:15 Mokhao's cooking is full of vibrancy and local flavor.
03:19 Stylish yet simple to prepare.
03:22 Now, let's not forget that as a celebrity chef,
03:28 she is something of a food influencer
03:31 and a largely popular one at that.
03:33 I just came back from Sweden
03:39 where I won a Gommand World Cookbook Award
03:43 for my cookbook hosting with the Lazy Makkoti.
03:45 And tonight I'm getting ready to go to the LAX Awards.
03:49 It's a big night for culinary professionals
03:52 and I'm really excited.
03:53 I think that I'm lucky to be working
03:58 in this industry at this time
04:00 'cause now culinary professionals
04:04 aren't just stuck in the kitchen.
04:05 There's so much more to do
04:07 than to be in the industry kitchen.
04:09 So I'm lucky that I get to do some of these things
04:12 like glam up and look pretty,
04:14 but still be able to cook and do what it is that I love.
04:18 And the winner is...
04:20 Last year at the LAX Awards,
04:22 I got Cookbook of the Year
04:24 and it was really exciting,
04:25 especially to get such recognition here at home.
04:29 It's always such great validation to get celebrated at home.
04:33 I think what made the cookbook
04:36 and I guess the brand so special
04:37 is that so many South Africans can relate to it.
04:40 I think at the heart of the Lazy Makkoti
04:43 is a desire to celebrate South Africa
04:45 and South African cooking.
04:47 With modern ways of cooking and modern appliances,
04:50 you don't need a cast iron pot to make your favorite stews
04:54 or hours and hours to prepare a feast for family and friends.
04:58 The Lazy Makkoti is making cooking
05:01 less daunting for the masses.
05:03 (upbeat music)
05:06 (upbeat music)