Siba Mtongana has a Bachelor’s Degree in Food Science and Nutrition and also her professional training in culinary arts. She has an academic background in both science and the arts when it comes to food which is what makes her unique approach to food. It’s from an informed place, not just following food as a trend. That’s what makes her an expert and authority in the food industry
When Siba’s Table first aired on Food Network, it not only cemented Chef Siba’s standing as Africa’s premier culinary phenomenon, but catapulted her to the status of global food icon in more than 150 countries worldwide, and 60 million homes in the USA through the Cooking Channel alone. The world was hungry for the local and African dishes with a twist and this Food and Consumer Sciences with majors in Food Sciences and Nutrition graduate, former magazine food editor and model served up, through her company The Siba Co – and we continue to consume every bite she creates with her unique dazzling deftness.
With so much under her belt including being a Harvard Business School Case Study, a best selling cookbook author, Chef de patron and owner of a premium fine dining establishment, Siba The Restaurant in Cape Town’s famous V&A Waterfront situated inside the prestigious Table Bay Hotel with the most stunning views. Not forgetting that she is a savvy entrepreneur with a kitchenware range sold in the biggest homeware store in the country, @home! Speaking of accolades and awards, she has won over 5 awards in the USA alone in the TV and media space. Her books have won 3 awards in famous world cookbook awards. In addition to that she has won the Ubuntu Award honoured by The South African government for her excellent body of work and flying the South African flag high. She has recently won the Luxe Hospitality Icon Of The Year 2022, and her restaurant, Siba The Restaurant has been nominated as Best Hotel Fine Dining Restaurant at the World Restaurant Awards. Chef Siba is the most in-demand celebrity chef on an array of local and international programmes, at food festivals the world over and not forgetting on glossy magazine covers! It’s hard to sum up just how barricade-breaking and down-to-earth she is with her humble, Mdantsane, Eastern Cape roots.
‘Being able to bring my continent the food acclaim it deserves is both a privilege and a blessing,’ says Siba. Much of her focus remains invested in The Siba Co, a multi-faceted food company that operates in TV, digital and social media, book publishing, hospitality and bespoke eventing leg, education, aviation, retail, a talent management agency where amongst the many thing she her team does is to accept invitations to be a keynote or motivational speakers for different topics well as hosting services such as food demonstrations and masterclasses.
Siba Mtongana is a multi award-winning celebrity chef, mom, author, and founder of The Siba Co.
The world was hungry for the local and African dishes with a twist this Food and Consumer Sciences with majors in Food Sciences and Nutrition, former magazine food editor and model served up – and continues to consume every bite she creates with her unique dazzling deftness.
Some bespoke highlights include:
Panache Woman Of Wonder Award
Glamour Woman Of The Year Award for Game Changing Entrepreneur
Luxe Top 10 Best Chefs in SA Award
Siba launched @Home kitchenware (retail)
Opened Siba The Restaurant (fine dining)
Luxe Culinary Icon Award
Award winning and best-selling Gourmand Cookbook published cookbooks Siba Let’s Cook with Lonwabo (Family cookbook). Named as one of 7 global food goddesses by Tatler magazine in Malaysia alongside Nigella Lawson, Racheal Ray to name a few. In 2020 Siba officially became a Harvard Business School Case Study as a pioneering chef from South Africa conducted by Harvard Business School, and named one of 100 most influential Africans by New Africa Magazine.
In 2019, The Siba Co was hand-picked by the presidency to culinary direct and curate the VIP menu for the inauguration of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, serving 450 guests, including heads of states, former presidents, kings, queens and global business moguls.
Siba Mtongana was honoured with the Ubuntu Award by the South African government for being a global ambassador of SA for putting SA on the global map through her craft and expertise. Previous winners are Trevor Noah, Black Coffee, Ladysmith Black Mambazo to name a few.
My Table won 2 prestigious awards at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards in China. Siba was the first South African ever to win the Special Award of the Jury for the legacy her book leaves and pop culture impact it has had in SA.
Siba’s re-invention as a business-savvy entrepreneur as evidenced through the formation of The Siba Co, a Food Solutions and Innovation Holdings Company
In 2015, the best-selling cookbook ever in its retail class, My Table, was published and marketed by The Siba Co.
In 2014 She made the O (Oprah Winfrey) Power List of 21 African Women who are rocking the world, to name just a few.
2013-2018 Siba’s book “My Table” was in over 135 countries worldwide with 5 US awards.
Siba Mtongana is involved in the development of her hometown, Mdansane where she recently visited on Human Rights Day along with other dignitaries shining the spotlight on Mdansane.
Siba also does pro bono appearances for a variety of preselected charities close to her heart including schools and religious organisations.
As a Chef, food insecurity is Chef Siba’s biggest concern – as a mother of 4, the plight of hungry children is especially concerning to her. Siba has therefore collaborated with companies like Chefs With Compassion and Ladles Of Love to combat food insecurity in our country.