From Farmer Dreams to Culinary Success: Chef André Erasmus on Faith, Family & Food

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Join JustGospel's Faith at Work for an intimate conversation with Chef André Erasmus, founder of Appetite on Vaal, whose culinary journey began with a surprising twist - he wanted to be a farmer but hated getting his hands dirty!
Chef André shares his remarkable transformation from a young man with a family chocolate cake recipe to becoming a sought-after private chef in the Vaal. His story reveals the sacrifices and struggles of building a culinary career, including the heartbreaking reality of missing his first child's early years while working 15-hour days at a guest house.
Key Discussion Points:

How a family chocolate cake recipe sparked his culinary passion
The challenge of looking too young to be taken seriously as a chef
Sacrificing family time for career advancement and the lessons learned
The 10-year struggle of building Appetite on Vaal from scratch
Divine intervention through a trailer-moving side job that led to mentorship
Learning from Chef Nelis and working with embassy clients
The art of creating personalized menus based on client preferences
His unique beef fillet poached in 24-hour beef stock
Mentoring VUT culinary students and giving back to the industry

Future Vision:
Chef André reveals his dream of opening a restaurant that combines feeding the hungry with training underprivileged youth in culinary skills, believing that practical experience teaches more than expensive culinary school.
"I do it for the love... I would rather choose family. I'll never go back to working full-time at the expense of family." - Chef André Erasmus
This episode celebrates the balance between professional success and family values, showing how God can use our talents to serve others while keeping what matters most at the center.
Subscribe to JustGospel Radio and catch us live at www.justgospelradio.co.za
#JustGospel #FaithAtWork #AppetiteOnVaal #PrivateChef #CulinaryJourney #WorkLifeBalance #VaalRegion #ChefLife
7 Aug 2025 English South Africa Christianity · Religion & Spirituality

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