Simultaneously serving 400 people dinner is certainly not for the faint-hearted, yet this is what Grethel Ferreira does every night at the Theatre of Dreams. Despite her tender years, Grethel heads up the Zingara kitchen with a talent and determination which usually take years to cultivate, and in doing so has successfully filled very large shoes indeed.
Grethel hails from Clanwilliam, a small town up the Cape West Coast and she first came to Cape Town in 2000 to broaden her horizons, spread the proverbial wings and "learn more about food".
After completing a course at the Elsa van der Nest Culinary Academy in 2001, Grethel joined the 5 Flies Restaurant where she learnt much under chefs Gerard Reidy and Gerard van Staden. In need of a new challenge, Grethel accepted a position as head chef at Sea Point Gardens Restaurant in 2005 where she had the opportunity to do her own thing and expand her repertoire. In 2006 she met Richard from Madame Zingara, and the rest, as they say, is history.
With her brigade of 36, she does this daily in the preparation of 1600 plates and 300 staff meals, which is what’s required when on the road with the Grand Dame of Cirque.