Chef Tshepiso Semenya

Private Chef in Cape Town

Hey there!

I’m Chef Tshepi, and I’m excited to bring a personalized touch to your culinary journey.

Food is about more than just nourishment—it’s about connection. Whether it’s a family gathering, an intimate dinner, or a corporate event, my passion is in creating meals that bring people together, spark conversations, and make lasting memories.

As a professionally trained chef with over nine years of experience, I’ve had the privilege of cooking for people from all over the world. Each table I’ve set, each dish I’ve crafted, has shaped my approach to cooking, making it as much about the experience as it is about the food.

I believe in the magic of fresh, locally sourced ingredients and flavors from around the world, thoughtfully prepared to reflect your unique tastes and preferences. Let’s turn your next meal into a moment that’s filled with love, laughter, and exceptional cuisine.

For me, cooking is...

about creating moments of connection, where flavors, stories, and people come together to share something truly meaningful.

I learned to cook at...

I learned to cook by watching my gran and exploring diverse cultures through travel, discovering how food connects us. Oh, and Culinary School, haha

A cooking secret...

letting the ingredients speak for themselves, enhancing their natural flavors with simple, thoughtful techniques

My menus

The Coral Course

STARTER

Choose 1 dish

Tuna Tataki with Ponzu Dressing, Pickled Ginger, and Sesame Crust

Crayfish Medallions with Champagne Butter and Dill Emulsion

Caviar on Potato Blini with Crème Fraîche and Chive Oil

Tempura Baby Abalone with Lemon Aioli and Seaweed Salt

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Pan-Seared Line Fish (Chef’s Choice) with Shellfish Bisque and Potato Fondant

Luxury Seafood Boil: Crayfish, Prawns, Mussels & Clams with Garlic Butter and Corn

Surf 'n Turf: Fillet of Beef with Grilled Prawns, Parsnip Purée and Red Wine Jus

Saffron Risotto with Lemon Zest, Grilled Artichokes and Asparagus (v)

DESSERT

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Champagne Granita with Citrus Segments and Mint

Salted Caramel Tart with Sea Salt Crust and Miso Chantilly

Lemon Panna Cotta with Black Sesame Crumble

Passionfruit Pavlova with Toasted Coconut Cream

The Med Way

STARTER

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Marinated Olives, Roasted Peppers & Hummus with Flatbread

Greek Village Salad with Feta, Olives & Oregano Vinaigrette

Lentil & Lemon Soup with Fresh Herbs

Roasted Aubergine Dip (Melitzanosalata) with Pita Crisps

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Spiced Lamb Koftas with Herbed Couscous and Tzatziki

Grilled Chicken Souvlaki with Lemon Potatoes and Garlic Yogurt

Baked Hake with Olive Tapenade, Tomatoes & Herb Rice

Stuffed Bell Peppers with Herbed Rice, Pine Nuts & Tomato Sauce (v)

DESSERT

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Greek Yogurt with Honey & Seasonal Fruit

Semolina Orange Cake (Revani) with Syrup

Pistachio Baklava Bites

Fresh Fruit Skewers with Mint & Lime

Basil & Beyond

STARTER

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Ricotta Gnocchi with Burnt Butter, Sage & Parmigiano

Carpaccio of Beef with Rocket, Parmesan, Lemon Zest & Truffle Oil

Charred Artichokes with Whipped Feta and Lemon Crumb

Burrata with Pickled Beets, Basil Oil & Toasted Pine Nuts

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Veal Osso Buco with Saffron Risotto and Gremolata

Chicken Supreme with Porcini Cream Sauce and Truffle Mashed Potato

Grilled Sea Bass with White Wine Caper Sauce, Herbed Farro & Grilled Lemon

Ricotta & Spinach Ravioli with Sage Butter, Toasted Hazelnuts & Shaved Parmesan (v)

DESSERT

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Classic Tiramisu with Espresso Soak & Mascarpone Cream

Lemon Semifreddo with Limoncello Syrup and Pistachio Dust

Chocolate Hazelnut Torte with Espresso Ganache and Orange Zest

Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta with Amaretti Crumble and Honey Drizzle

Trust the Chef

STARTER

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Grilled Cheese Soldiers with Tomato Bisque Dipping Sauce

Warm Potato Salad with Spring Onion, Capers, and Dijon Mayo

Creamy Butternut Soup with Toasted Coconut & Chili Oil

Lightly Pickled Beetroot Carpaccio with Feta and Toasted Sunflower Seeds

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Tender Braised Oxtail with Soft Herb Pap & Chakalaka Jus

Honey-Mustard Baked Chicken with Creamy Mashed Potato and Buttered Broccoli

Oven-Roasted Snoek with Apricot Glaze, Pumpkin Fritters & Braised Kale

Creamy Mushroom & Baby Spinach Pasta Bake with Toasted Seeds (v)

DESSERT

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Vanilla Bread Pudding with Butterscotch Sauce

Chocolate Mousse Pots with Whipped Cream and Orange Zest

Caramelized Banana Tart with Shortbread Crust

Amarula-Spiked Malva Pudding (optional alcohol-free)

The Chef’s Whim

STARTER

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Baked Feta with Sweet Peppers, Garlic, and Flatbread

Roasted Cauliflower with Caper Butter & Smoked Almonds

Chilli Corn Ribs with Lime Crème Fraîche

Herbed Lentil Fritters with Tahini Yogurt

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Lamb Kofta with Herbed Couscous, Labneh & Mint Oil

Buttermilk Fried Chicken Thighs with Hot Honey & Collard Greens

Spiced Yellowtail with Green Herb Salsa, Charred Corn & Coconut Rice

Roast Cauliflower Steak with Harissa Chickpeas & Cashew Cream

DESSERT

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Dark Chocolate Ganache Tart with Sea Salt & Cardamom Cream

Spiced Sweet Potato Pie with Marshmallow Meringue

Lemon Verbena Panna Cotta with Granadilla Glaze

Amarula Ice Cream with Salted Caramel Swirl

Bokkie’s banquet

STARTER

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Burnt Butter Butternut Soup with Rooibos Cream and Toasted Seed Sprinkle (v)

Tomato Bredie Tartlets with Basil Oil and Microgreens

Mini Braai Broodjies - Miniature versions of the classic toasted sandwich with cheddar, tomato, and onion grilled over the fire

Braai Braised Vegetable Mini Bunny Chow: Mini hollowed-out bread loaves filled with spicy bean curry, garnished with coriander and served with a side of cucumber raita

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Braised Lamb Potjie - Slow-cooked lamb with carrots, baby potatoes, and green beans in a rich tomato and Cape herb sauce. Served with steamed basmati rice and topped with a sprig of fresh rosemary

Braai Platter - A selection of boerewors, beef Chuck and peri-peri chicken skewers, served with pap, chakalaka, and a side of creamy spinach

Cape Malay-Spiced Kingklip with Fragrant Basmati Rice and Tamarind Glaze

Grilled Aubergine Stack with Morogo, Tomato Relish, and Umami Herb Oil (v)

DESSERT

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Amarula Malva Pudding with Homemade Vanilla Custard

Rooibos & Honey Crème Brûlée topped with a Thin Caramelized Sugar Layer

Koeksisters with Whipped Lemon Curd Cream

Milk Tart Jars with a Cinnamon Biscuit Base and Cardamom Cream

Let’s have a braai

STARTER

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FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

MAIN COURSE

All inclusive

Chuck Steak - A juicy cut of beef grilled to perfection over open flames. This hearty favourite is seasoned with a bold, smoky dry rub and finished with a tangy tomato relish that adds just the right kick

Sticky BBQ Chicken Wings - Grilled wings glazed with a homemade sticky barbecue sauce featuring honey, soy, and smoked paprika

Boerewors - Traditional South African sausage, coiled and grilled to juicy perfection

Chakalaka - A fiery and flavourful South African relish made with mixed vegetables, beans, and a warm blend of spices. It brings the heat and heart to every braai plate

Bean Salad A mix of green beans, kidney beans, chickpeas, and a tangy vinaigrette

Buttery Pap (Maize Meal) Served with a tomato and onion relish

Garlic bread - a baguette lathered in garlic and herb butter

Braai Roasted Butternut & Chickpea Salad Served with red onions, spinach, and a tangy tahini dressing

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Warm Malva Pudding with Custard

Mini Koeksisters

Fruit Salad with Honey & Mint

Milk Tart Squares with a Cinnamon Dusting

Goodbye Single

STARTER

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Beef Bone Marrow & Butter Toast - Fire-roasted marrow, herb gremolata, charred sourdough

Ceviche with Fresh Herbs and Citrus  - A refreshing starter with freshly caught fish, lightly marinated in citrus juice, mixed with finely diced red onion, cilantro, avocado, and a hint of chili

Bruschetta Trio: Tomato and basil, Mediterranean Tapenade, Roasted red pepper and goats cheese

Beef Tartare with Mustard Dressing  - Finely chopped prime beef, seasoned with Dijon mustard, shallots, capers, and a touch of Worcestershire sauce, served with crispy toast points

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Grilled Mediterranean Sea Bass, served with lemon-infused couscous and asparagus

Chicken Cordon Bleu à la Maison: Crisp golden chicken roulade filled with smoked ham and Swiss cheese, served with a creamy Dijon mash and rosemary-scented green beans

Beef Fillet with Red Wine & Balsamic Reduction – Tender beef fillet, cooked medium-rare, with a rich red wine balsamic sauce, served with rosemary-infused mashed potatoes and sautéed broccolini

Cauliflower Steak – Roasted cauliflower “steak” with chimichurri sauce, served with a side of wild rice

DESSERT

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Amarula & Espresso Tiramisu Layers of coffee-soaked sponge, Amarula mascarpone cream and spiced chocolate dust Wine Pairing: Tawny Port or Cape Vintage Reserve

Baked Cheesecake with Berry Compote - Classic New York-style cheesecake served with a mixed berry compote and fresh mint

Caramelized Banana Tart with Shortbread Crust

Chocolate Decadence with Raspberry Coulis A rich and indulgent chocolate torte served with a vibrant raspberry coulis, dusted with edible gold

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Chef Tshepiso's reviews

4.5

•

70 services

Hiring Chef Tshepiso for my partner's birthday weekend was one of the best decisions I've made. From start to finish, she was absolutely phenomenal. I truly cannot recommend her enough. What stood out immediately was her energy. She is warm, friendly, and a genuine joy to have around, while still being completely respectful of our privacy and space. She struck that perfect balance of being present without being intrusive, which made the whole experience feel effortless and comfortable. She was punctual, patient, professional, and incredibly accommodating. Our schedule wasn't always perfectly on time, and she handled every adjustment with grace and zero fuss. She also considered my pregnancy while creating the meals without me having to ask much, that level of thoughtfulness and care meant the world to me. Beyond the logistics, what really moved me was her passion. You can feel it in every dish she creates. She was also generous enough to educate us about the meals and ingredients, which added such a meaningful layer to the experience. It felt less like a service and more like being welcomed into something special. As for the food, it was outstanding. I've eaten at quite a few restaurants recently, and honestly, her meals surpassed all of them. That's not a small thing to say. My partner, who is quite a picky eater, not only enjoyed every meal but was genuinely happy and appreciative throughout the entire weekend. That alone says everything. If you're looking for a private chef who brings talent, heart, professionalism, and wonderful energy into your home, look no further. We will absolutely be booking her again.

Absolutely amazing experience

Tshepi send her business partner Mpho Mile and the whole experience was wonderful. Mpho cooked a lovely meal, was really pleasant to talk to and she was wonderful with our daughter.

We had an amazing evening and the best experience. The food was super delicious and Tshepi was very lovely.

Excellent and exceptional service

Chef Tshepi was so amazing! She totally got our brief and really listened to any thoughts and comments we had and was super helpful. She made changes to the menu when asked and even printed out the menus on fancy paper! It was our first time in Cape Town and we really wanted to experience South African cuisine and Chef delivered perfectly. I would highly recommend.

Absolut empfehlenswert!

Chef Tshepiso gave us an amazing experience!

tshepi did a excellent job!

Chef Tshepi is an absolute gem. She cooked for us a traditional South African family meal during our first visit to SA. The food was delicious and plentiful. There was not a single dish we didn’t like. Highly recommend!