By: Sizakele Nduli
A professional chef from Katlehong in Gauteng is adding an exciting twist to the conventional way of making burgers and hotdogs by incorporating pizza flavours into her buns. “I love incorporating different cuisines in one dish, infusing my own flare and signature to the dish,” Cebisile Mchunu, 27, told Vutivi News. When she started baking in 2017, it was out of love. Her passion enabled her to cover transport costs to and from school during her first year as a hospitality student.
I started [baking] cakes as a hobby. It’s a hobby turned business because someone believed I could do more than muffins. They dared me to make a cake since I made such nice muffins. “When I received feedback that it was good, I didn’t look back. I started watching more videos [on YouTube] and kept on mastering the craft,” Mchunu said, giving props to Andile Maphosela, who tasked her with baking her first cake.
The founder of Graceey Gray Bakes and Eats revealed to Vutivi News that for the past seven years, she had single-handedly managed her bakery with assistance from her family with some of the baking. However, with the launch of her new venture in 2024, the Eats, she finally took the step to employ three women to join her business. “I wish to still create more employment as the business grows in the future [because] at my table I want everyone to eat,” she added.
Like many other businesses that were affected by load-shedding, Mchunu said it was a challenge she needed to overcome. And to ensure that the business ran smoothly, she was constantly planning. “Making sure the business stays afloat, including managing funds and cash flow, stocking, and costing; is something I learned along the way and taught myself. I took online classes to avoid setbacks. It took me a couple of years to get it right.”
Mchunu dreams of one day expanding her business and culinary skills. Her aim is to eventually introduce a franchise system for her business. “I believe the pizza burger concept is amazing and needs to be shared with the whole of South Africa. With the bakes, I’d love to keep it as personal as possible, as I believe in quality over quantity,” Mchunu said, adding that she planned to expand the menu.
Her menu, which is on Uber Eats, offers a variety of unusual burgers, hotdogs, and chips. “Listen to your customers, delegate duties. You can only do so much. I learned it the hard way. Most importantly, be passionate about what you are doing, as it takes time, hard work, and dedication,” Mchunu concluded.
