Chef Jackie Cameron
Chef Jackie Cameron incorporates a sense of identity and place into her cooking better than any other chef in South Africa. Cameron’s plates engage with the diversity of South African sense of self. Classic tastes from across the cultural spectrum are reconfigured in modern manner that allows them to take their place at the international table of multi award winning, world class wonderful restaurants. From first bite of bread to last bon-bon, her work is subtle, sophisticated, skilled and delicious. Her students are privileged to be part of a process that is increasingly seeing South African tastes taking their place at the table of great world food genres.
- Anna Trapido - Restaurant Critic
Blog
Chef Jackie Cameron and the Jackie Cameron School of Food & Wine students look forward to the 2026 Art in the Country festival at Harrington House in Hilton. Join us from 28 - 31 May for amazing art, creativity, beauty and a top-quality bistro menu in the KZN Midlands.
Join us on Wednesday 13 May 2026 at Jackie Cameron School of Food & Wine for sundowners with a difference! We will be showcasing Bon Courage wines and our students will pair delicious tastings for the various cultivars presented.
Let us treat the special Mothers in our lives to a delicious meal at the Jackie Cameron School of Food and Wine. Book now for our Mother's Day Carvery Lunch on Sunday, 10 May 2026
Join Jackie Cameron’s Social Cooking Club for a vibrant Mexican cuisine evening in Hilton, KZN. Enjoy hands-on cooking, bold flavours, fresh ingredients, a 2-course meal, recipe booklet, chef hat and a glass of Brampton wine on arrival.
From student to award-winning executive chef and mentor, Jackie Cameron’s journey reflects culinary excellence, leadership, and a lasting commitment to training future chefs in South Africa.
Join us on Wednesday 22 April at Jackie Cameron School of Food & Wine for sundowners with a difference! We will be showcasing Boschendal wines and our students will pair delicious tastings for the various cultivars presented.
Meet Aiden Van Wyk, a determined Class of 2026 student at Jackie Cameron School of Food & Wine. From his early introduction to the school in Grade 8 to his long-term ambition of owning a restaurant abroad and becoming a sports nutritionist, Aiden’s story is one of discipline, passion, and purpose.
Meet Alexis-Jayde van Wyk, a Class of 2026 student at Jackie Cameron School of Food & Wine. Discover what inspired her culinary journey, her dream of becoming a yacht chef, and the passion she brings to her training.
Meet Caleb Naidoo, a driven student chef from Pietermaritzburg with big dreams of owning his own restaurant. Discover what inspires him, his passion for food, and his journey at Jackie Cameron School of Food & Wine.
Chef Jackie Cameron reflects on an unforgettable evening at the 2026 Eat Out Woolworths Restaurant Awards, where she proudly presented the Trailblazer Award to Margot Janse and celebrated the chefs, restaurants, and rising talent shaping the future of South African dining. The official winners included Margot Janse as Trailblazer Award recipient, Johannes Richter as Chef of the Year, and FYN as Restaurant of the Year. The tone of the excerpt also reflects the video transcript’s emphasis on an “electric” atmosphere, celebration, and Woolworths’ four-year partnership with Eat Out.
Jackie Cameron School of Food & Wine proudly celebrates former student Carla Schulze, part of the school’s very first intake, on being named LUXE Chef of the Year. Her inspiring journey is a reflection of passion, talent, and the exciting future that lies ahead.
Meet Student Chef Isabella Moig and discover her passion for baking, her future goals, and why she chose Jackie Cameron School of Food & Wine in Hilton, KZN for her culinary training.
Chef Jackie Cameron recently joined Margaret Hirsch on On the Move with Margaret for a heartfelt conversation in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. In this inspiring interview, Jackie reflects on mentorship, culinary training, entrepreneurship, and the importance of helping young chefs turn passion into purpose.
Durban-born Joshua Bolton joined Jackie Cameron School of Food & Wine to sharpen his culinary skills, grow in confidence, and turn his lifelong love of cooking into a career. Inspired by cooking with his gran from an early age, Joshua is committed to giving his all to the hospitality industry, with dreams of one day opening a South African restaurant overseas.
Discover the bold flavours of India at Jackie Cameron’s Social Cooking Club. Join us on 26 March 2026 for a hands-on Indian cooking class in Hilton, KZN, complete with wine, a 2-course meal, and take-home recipes.
Meet Mapule Khumalo, a passionate culinary student at Jackie Cameron School of Food & Wine, as she shares her journey, ambitions, and the mindset required to succeed in the world of professional cooking.
Join third year student chef Seaton Haynes at the Jackie Cameron School of Food & Wine for Across the Highlands, a themed final lunch inspired by Scottish, Irish and Welsh cuisine. Enjoy a memorable culinary experience on Saturday, 21 March 2026.
Jackie Cameron School of Food & Wine has been awarded the prestigious Highfield International Top Centre Award for delivering the Highfield Level 4 Award in Managing Food Safety in Catering (RQF). This recognition highlights the school’s commitment to world-class culinary training, food safety excellence, and industry-leading hospitality education.
Student chef Noah Cramer shares his journey into the culinary world, his passion for baking, and his dream of opening a bakery café in the countryside after graduating from Jackie Cameron School of Food & Wine.
Join us for “The Taste of Asia”, a final lunch presented by 3rd-year student chef Deeya Palath at the Jackie Cameron School of Food & Wine. Inspired by the vibrant flavours of India, Thailand and Singapore, this special culinary showcase celebrates the culmination of Deeya’s training and creativity.
Inspired by the life-changing value of good nutrition, Rebecca Clarke shares what led her to the Jackie Cameron School of Food & Wine in Hilton chef school in KwaZulu-Natal, and how she’s training to create food that’s wholesome, delicious, and beautifully presented.
Join us on Wednesday 11 March at Jackie Cameron School of Food & Wine for sundowners with a difference! We will be showcasing Spier and our students will pair delicious tastings for the various cultivars presented.
Meet Singabakhe Mphuli, Class of 2026 at Jackie Cameron School of Food & Wine in Hilton, KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. Discover her global culinary ambitions, passion for growth, and journey toward becoming a successful businesswoman in hospitality.
Experience Stiaan Rossouw’s European Coastline-inspired Final Lunch on 7 March at Jackie Cameron School of Food & Wine. A celebration of passion, skill, and culinary excellence.
Meet Sophia Drakopoulos, Class of 2026 at Jackie Cameron School of Food & Wine in Hilton, KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. Discover her Greek culinary influences, career ambitions, and what it takes to build a successful career as a professional chef in South Africa.
Join us for Sarah’s Final Lunch, an unforgettable experience hosted by Sarah Le Roux, a talented third-year student at the Jackie Cameron School of Food & Wine. Showcasing her exceptional skills, Sarah has crafted a menu that celebrates the rich flavors of French, Thai, and South African cuisine, taking guests on a coastal journey. Don’t miss out - reserve your seat.
Meet Timothy Wassermann, Class of 2026 at Jackie Cameron School of Food & Wine in Hilton, KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. Discover what drives this aspiring chef, his five-year restaurant goal, and what it truly takes to train as a professional chef in South Africa.
Join our Social Cooking Club at Jackie Cameron School of Food and Wine. Where hands-on cooking meets great wine and even better company. 26 February 2026 at 6pm. R400 per person. Come to all 7 and your last one is free.
Thinking of becoming a chef? The culinary industry is full of myths; from angry chefs to outdated stereotypes about education and lifestyle. Discover the truth about what it’s really like to study at a professional chef school in South Africa, and why seeing the reality firsthand can change everything.
Recipes
“I’m obsessed with chocolate mousse; light silky-smooth texture is pure indulgence. But my family? They are always worried about eating raw eggs in traditional recipes. That all changed when I made my chocolate mousse tart. One bite of that rich fluffy filling in a buttery crust and they were converted, no more raw egg fears, just empty plates and demands for seconds.” - Caleb Naidoo / Student Chef
“I started baking with my gran when I was 8 years old and our favourite thing to bake was muffins. I started doing work experience at a café and the first thing I was taught to make was this cappuccino muffin French toast, we used muffins that were left over from the morning to make this dish and it very quickly sold out. it was a unique and new idea that I had never seen before and it intrigued me to learn more unique food variations that would help save money and still be delicious. This dish made me realize cooking was not just the boring stereotype chicken and rice on a plate, food could be adapted and changed with the use of your imagination to create something captivating and new to the eye.” - Isabella Moig / Class of 2026
“The reason I chose to make this dish is because it reminds me of my childhood. My gran raised me from 8 years old and I remember she would always make me this whenever I got sick. It was some of the best food I had when I was sick and whenever I eat it I always feel warm and nostalgic. It always makes me feel better now whenever I have it. That's why I decided that it would be my recipe of choice to share with you.” - Josh Bolton
Mapule Khumalo’s spicy, creamy chicken livers are a classic South African starter, made even more memorable with perfect homemade garlic bread. It is a generous, flavour-filled dish that shows confidence, warmth and a lovely understanding of balance.
“I have always loved lemon and ginger. When I was younger my mom would make lemon meringue, so the taste of lemon reminds me of my childhood. While my mom would make a lemon meringue with a basic tennis biscuit crust, I prefer to have a ginger biscuit crust as I think lemon and ginger are one of the best flavor combinations.” - Noah Cramer
“After many months of intense chemotherapy and multiple surgeries, I found happiness in the kitchen. Cooking and baking helped me process and brought me joy. One of the first recipes I perfected were American style chocolate chip cookies that I made for my favorite doctor, Dr Hilton.” - Rebecca Clarke
Journalist Frank Chemaly visited Jackie Cameron School of Food & Wine for third-year student Deeya Palath’s final lunch, a vibrant Asian-inspired showcase featuring the flavours of India, Thailand and Singapore.