CURRENT MISSION

My trip begins to new life in China

ABOUT ME

Smokey is the official Chef de Cuisine (Head Chef) of Pioneer Unit Records. A talented, driven and energetic entrepreneur in his own right, Smokey is also CEO of, Man In Cooking, a multi-faceted food entertainment company.

Born in Cape Town, South Africa, during the height of Apartheid in 1981, Smokey has always felt different from his peers. A self-confessed ‘problem child’, Smokey always questioned authority, wanting to learn by his own mistakes and making plenty of them.

At just age 2, Smokey went missing from his family. Luckily he was returned safely but this often repeated childhood story always made Smokey feel that he was a wanderer at heart.

Despite being raised in the Anglican Church and serving as an alter boy for many years, Smokey never felt any sense of spiritual belonging. However, he knew right from wrong and, as a young African boy, he always had a strong desire to explore his cultural values.

Smokey also never felt a sense of family belonging growing up in Kwa Langa, Zone 15. The household was full of cousins, aunts, uncles, brothers and sisters who were all active (and pre-occupied) PAC members. When Smokey’s father went to study in exile, Smokey went to stay with his Grandmother in Guguletu where the dusty streets were alive with the sound of liberation songs and rebellion.

Smokey was rebelling in his own way and gave his Grandmother an extremely hard time, yet she showed him the love that he had never known. It was her cooking in particular that had a magical effect on him. Made with love and care, her food seemed to have extra special flavour that sparked what was to become his journey into the gastronomic world.

Smokey started teaching himself by reading and trying to copy recipes he saw in books. After a period of time formally studying electronic engineering and cosmetics, Smokey finally got his break when he embarked on an apprenticeship at the exclusive, Buitenverwachting Wine Farm Restaurant, studying under Head Chef, Edgar Osojnik. He conducted an intense three-year training program, which finished off with six months of theory at The Culinary Academy (TCA) Cape Town.

Smokey is an official member of South African Chefs Association. He established Man In Cooking in 2004 to deliver a variety of catering and entertainment services.

PHILOSOPHY

1.Never let society rob you from who you are.
2.Make it Happen

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

The only surfing I know is at the sea for now, if you talk about what we've been doing for years,sharing and living communial is what we know
As Africans

Interests

Arts,dance, film, FOOD, people and the Buddha lessons

• arts
• books
• make up
• dancing
• dining
• cooking
• recipes
• wine
• reading
• surfing
• engineering
• entrepreneurship

Music, Movies, and Books

Hip-hop I'm a rap artist,John Grasham all, John Gray man are from mars women are from venus, The Game.Osho the Buddha,Shantaram, Myths of light.Cook books.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

waking up in a township known to be poor and dangeruos, yet the smile around the people is amazing. every day you come across a charecter that will inspier you in many ways

Teach, Learn, Share

I wanna have International Exposure with food so I can cook around the World.TEACH LIFE LESSONS

Countries I’ve Visited

China, Zimbabwe

Countries I’ve Lived In

South Africa