From the age of 9 I’ve spend a lot of time in the kitchen. I took an interest in baking, watching my mother, and eventually started cooking. I was given the freedom to use my imagination to cook and create what I wanted. My mother is an exceptional cook and I wanted to be as good as her.
At 16 I wanted to fuel this passion for food further. When the time came to go “job shadowing” I chose the Cape Sun Intercontinental 5 star hotel. It was here were I saw what chefs did, I was exposed to every facet of the kitchen. I knew then at 16 what I wanted to do with my life.
After matric I did a national diploma in catering and hospitality studies. I started in hotels and worked my way through the ranks of the kitchen. In 2011 I was chosen as an inflight chef for Etihad airways, based in Abu Dhabi. I was responsible for wining and dining prestigious V.I.P guest in first class. I cooked for the likes of Sir Paul McCartney, Coldplay and many of the royal family in Abu Dhabi.
Keanon’s Kitchen was a dream that started in 2009, but finally materialized in 2017. It’s based in Strandfontein, where I grew up. My kitchen is at the Strandfontein pavilion adjacent to the tidal pool. It’s so much more than just a catering/private chef business. It’s a proudly Strandfontein initiative, aimed at uplifting the community and other businesses and artist.
Keanon’s Kitchen focal point is to bring the restaurant experience to the comfort of your home. We want anyone to be able to afford a high culinary experience; to prove that fine dining is not only for the wealthy.
In the past 15 years I have been blessed to travel the world and work under exceptional chefs like Heindrich Koen, Marcus Ree Taylor, Grant Cullingworth, Linsay Venn and Sanel Esterhuisan. I use what I have learned from them and my travels to put together a unique culinary experience, showcasing fresh local produce and flavours.
I’m also a passionate and competitive surfer, my local beach is 9 miles Strandfontein were I have been surfing since I was 16.
When I’m not surfing I love downhill skateboarding with my crew TARBOUND, I might not be as fast as the others in my crew but my passion and STOKE is the same.
You can keep up to date with his hustle by following him on Facebook, and also Keanon’s Kitchen.
