01/04/2019
Best wishes Riashnie Thaver for the upcoming Distell Inter Hotel challenge 👩🏽🍳
Riashnie Thaver – The chef who plates with Passion!
Riashnie Thaver is proof that good things do come in small packages! The energetic 19-year old commis chef at Durban’s iconic Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani hotel’s Grill Jichana restaurant has been working her magic in the kitchen, so much so that she has been selected to participate in the seventh annual Distell Inter Hotel Challenge.
Enticed by aromatic flavors and intricacies of food preparation, Thaver, was drawn to the kitchen from an early age, which sparked her passion for the profession.
“I come from a very supportive family with big flavor, so it was years and years of watching my mum and grandmother prepare dishes in our kitchen or over an outdoor fire that reeled me in. I was always intrigued by the way they cooked, with lots of passion and lots of love,” said Thaver who matriculated with top honors at Durban Girls High School.
She explains she was in a position to choose any career put forward to her, but she chose to follow her passion.
“I am determined to break stereotypes, and encourage more youngsters to do what they love. I was expected to follow a career in accounting but thanks to the support of my parents my dream became a reality,” she said.
Eager to succeed in the industry, Thaver enrolled at The South African Hospitality Institute where she completed her studies and equipped herself with the necessary skills to join leading hospitality group, Tsogo Sun, as a chef last year.
“It was an injection of pure joy and exuberance, as my appointment to this fantastic hotel came completely unexpected. To be given the opportunity to work at Durban’s most iconic hotels is a huge honor and I am sincerely grateful that they recognized my ability,” said Thaver who lives the mantra, ‘It’s not what you say you can do but more about what you can actually do.’
Even though her first few month’s at the hotel’s kitchens were grueling, Thaver persevered and was determined to make an impact on her superiors by getting them to notice her ability.
After a year of hard work, passion and dedication at Grill Jichana, Thaver has been recognised as one of the hotel’s talented rising culinary stars destined for success. She is currently preparing to compete in the prestigious Distell Inter Hotel Challenge in June.
“I was thrilled when I was told and equally nervous but above all I felt honored to be selected and grateful for the opportunity to put my passion to the test. I am still preparing and this comes with intense practice, hard work and commitment.”
As the participating chef, Thaver will be expected to cook a three course meal using pork and cheese as the main ingredients.
“I love the challenge and have been working hard to get the creative juices flowing. Much research has gone into this and I am busy crafting my entry.
Describing her cooking style, Thaver says the closest word would be “crazy”.
“I’m an out the box type of person and this comes through quiet strongly when I cook. The unusual blend of flavors resonates with my personality and reflects who I truly am.
I create combinations unimaginable such as tequila caviar, white chocolate spaghetti with chocolate brownies smothered in wild berry compote. This is a play on spaghetti and meatballs in a dessert form,” explains Thaver.
She adds that her favorite ingredient that she cannot cook without is butter.
“It makes everything taste like a warm hug. Pure, authentic real butter! It enhances the natural flavors, adds richness to a dish and is a very versatile ingredient. It can find its way into every dish,” she says.
