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François Ferreira is the principal of the François Ferreira Academy, Bailli Délégué, Honoraire of Bailliage National d’ Afrique du Sud, a member of the South African Chefs Association, the Academy of Chefs and the South African Brandy Guild, a published author of award-winning books and well-loved TV and radio personality. Chef François started his hospitality journey in 1979 when he joined the South African Air Force as a Permanent Force member. In 1982 he was appointed as lecturer at the Air Force Cookery School in Valhalla, specialising in cookery, gastronomic history, etiquette and protocol, function planning and more. It is here where he won the SA Air Force Chef of the Year award for two consecutive years. He started working on an ad hoc basis for the household of Prime Minister PW Botha in 1983. In 1988 he was transferred to the State President’s Office and appointed head of the household of the Administrator-General of SWA/Namibia.

In 1992 he joined the household of President FW De Klerk, first as household manager and then comptroller of the household, a position he held until the inauguration of President Nelson Mandela in 1994.

After working as head chef at a few restaurants in Pretoria and becoming well known in the hospitality industry, he was a consultant for various restaurants and lodges in Cape Town and Namibia. He then found his passion for teaching and training, and in 2000–2003 he was appointed the head of Hotel and Restaurant Services at South Cape College in Oudtshoorn.

He decided to start a new adventure and share all his knowledge and wisdom by opening a culinary arts school in the heart of George in 2004. His experience, knowledge and love of the industry, combined with his convivial and extrovert personality, is guaranteed to add incredible value and a first-hand perspective to the François Ferreira Academy.