June 22 - Jhb southEast

Hugo makes chaos look beautiful
Hugo was raised by Collette and
Hugo Pienaar and grew up with his
younger sister in Brakpan in the
East Rand.
Hugo’s fondest childhood memory
was when he was 13-years-old.
‘I went hunting with my father for the
first time, and as a young boy to get
the opportunity to provide for your
family while having respect for mother
nature is one of the best memories,’
said Hugo.
He matriculated at Hoërskool Die
Anker in 2012 before leaving for
hotel school to pursue his dream of
becoming a chef. ‘When my parents
got divorced in 2008, my dad moved
and I lived with my mother and my
sister. When I got home from school, I
would help my sister with her homework
and prepare dinner for us.
‘This led to the awakening of my passion.
I started cooking more and tried
out new recipes,’ said Hugo.
He added he would sometimes
phone his dad to ask him about the
next step of the cooking process. ‘This
is how my father and I bonded. He
taught me cooking over the phone.’
Hugo has been in the industry for the
last nine years and he knows many
fields in his industry.
These days you will see him at the
Dros New Redruth, working as the
general manager.
“Being able to work for Martin and
work with him in the kitchen is just
priceless. I have so much respect
for him and the things he does
for others.’
A highlight of his career was when
he was placed fourth in a regional
Unilever Chef of the Year Competition
and became a regional judge for the
annual Checkers Boerewors Competition.
‘Passion is not something you teach.
It is a warm happy feeling you get
when you do something you love.
For example, when I competed for
Unilever Chef of the Year, which was
the penultimate professional cooking
competition in South Africa, I didn’t
win but I felt so accomplished and
that I think that was the passion talking,’
he explained.
Bring on the pressure
Hugo is the happiest working under
pressure. ‘When I’m under so much
14 Get It Joburg South • Alberton • Bedfordview • Greenstone • Modderfontein June 2022
GIS0603_014_1282893305.indd 14 2022/05/19 08:09:41