Chef Refe hangs up her MasterChef apron: 'This is just the beginning'
With a bold vision to open pop-up brunch spots, Refe is ready to turn her dreams into reality and dazzle food lovers everywhere.
MasterChef's Refe Dimbaza
Pippa Hudson interviews Refe Dimbaza, MasterChef South Africa contestant.
Listen below.
This week in the MasterChef kitchen, a jaw-dropping twist saw the Top 10 shrink to a Top 9 overnight.
In a surprising turn of events, 22-year-old Shreya from Ballito bowed out of the competition due to personal reasons, leaving a fierce battleground for the remaining contestants.
As the tension simmered, the challenge of the day was nothing short of exhilarating: Italian-South African fusion Day.
"I don't think anything could have prepared me for the pressure in the MasterChef kitchen...That clock doesn't wait for anyone."
- Refe Dimbaza, MasterChef South Africa contestant
The culinary stage was set for a high-stakes showdown with special guest Alessandro Khojane.
Born in Bloemfontein and raised in Italy, Alessandro is the visionary behind Joburg’s acclaimed Italian eatery, Gemelli, where he blends Italian elegance with African flair.
He captivated the contestants with a glimpse into his restaurant’s signature dish: an oxtail ragu slow-cooked to perfection over night.
This dish, a masterpiece of cross-cultural cooking, was meant to ignite the contestants’ creativity as they set out to craft their own fusion dishes.
While pasta wasn’t mandatory, if they chose to include it, it had to be made from scratch.
Despite the contestants’ valiant efforts, the pressure proved too much for Refe, who had entered the competition to honour her grandmother’s legacy.
"I grew up in a home that was very allowing for creativity and trying new things in the kitchen...She was a big, big supporter."
- Refe Dimbaza, MasterChef South Africa contestant
Though Refe's journey on MasterChef has come to an end, she’s far from finished.
She’s determined that this is just the beginning of a thrilling new chapter in her culinary career.
With a bold vision to open pop-up brunch spots, Refe is ready to turn her dreams into reality and dazzle food lovers everywhere.
"This is just the start of a huge dream of mine."
- Refe Dimbaza, MasterChef South Africa contestant
Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.