Hands-on cooking school, Eleven has a new principal to thank for its steaming successes. Glynnis Roberts believes creating dishes is an art form and that people are transported to a different place just by cooking or tasting food. Glynnis chatted to iafrica.com on how she climbed the kitchen ranks.

1.What is your first memory of food as a child?

My father’s baked bread with melting butter.

2. I believe some people are inherently good at cooking and others not, do you agree?

Not necessarily, depending on where and how you have grown up, some people develop a passion for food through friends and even relationships later on in life.

3. What are the three most basic things every kitchen should have?

Good knife
Whisk
Good set of pots

4. When standing in front of an empty pot, where do you get your inspiration?

In a glass of wine.

5. What are your personal goals for the next five years?

To increase the level of health in our country by inspiring people to eat good food and to have my own self sustaining farm for orphaned children.

6. Do you make the perfect balance between work and leisure time?

No, I always admire people who do get it right but I have never achieved that.

7. Men have dominated the cooking industry for the past 10 or so years, so much so that many restaurant owners prefer male chefs. Do you think there’s still space for women in the industry?

Absolutely, females add a touch of nurturing and sustenance to food. There are brilliant female chefs in the industry who can take the pace, work the hours and climb the kitchen ranks.

8. Do you offer any activities to introduce the youth to the cooking industry?

A children’s cooking class which we are still conceptualising.

9. What kinds of challenges have you faced being a woman in a senior role? How did you overcome them?

Acceptance, and to be taken seriously – worked hard, and proved I could do it.

10. In short, what is your recipe to success?

Success to me is happiness, I find moments of it, it’s a continual journey.