Alumnus: Makomborero Mutezo

For Makomborero Mutezo, it all began during his teens when he started watching the Food Network Africa channel. Says the 24-year old chef who hails from Pretoria: “I was captivated by the blend of creativity, design and science involved in making delicious dishes.”

In 2019, following matric, he enrolled at Capsicum’s Pretoria campus because “it offered a unique combination of culinary arts, food and design, aligning perfectly with my dual passions for food and creativity.”

After graduating in 2021 with a Culinary Arts and Food Design degree, Mutezo built a food design studio, which he called The Hungry Mute, a name that plays on his surname and his mission “to silence the hunger of my customers”. In 2023 he launched his inaugural product, a gourmet chocolate brownie, a tasty product that uses beautifully designed packaging with a diverse flavour profile made from raw ingredients sourced across the African continent. He now boasts seven different flavours that he sells via his website.

In June this year he was named one of 15 winners in the Woolworths Youth Makers competition, an initiative launched by the retailer to help budding entrepreneurs take their businesses to the next level. His prize included a one-year mentorship, the opportunity to market to Woolworths customers and a cash grant to grow his brand.

“I definitely want to continue my education in food design with a fully vertical business model as my ultimate goal. I envision Hungry Mute cafés, grocery stores and studios scattered across the globe. Upmarket establishments that will not only offer exceptional cuisine but also showcase stunning African architecture, beautiful crockery and exquisite furniture.”