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Exploring Zimbabwean Cuisine
Join us for an insightful 30-minute webcast exploring Zimbabwean cuisine and the innovative project ‘Whatz Cooking’ led by local chefs. Zimbabwean cuisine is rich in heritage, flavor, and sustainability, yet many traditional foods and techniques remain underutilized.
Fezile Ncube in Masvingo, Zimbabwe and Martin Christensson in Rome, Italy will introduce: the unique ingredients and techniques of Zimbabwean cuisine, the challenges in food knowledge, preservation, and sustainability and the role of chefs in shaping sustainable food systems through the ‘Whatz Cooking’ project.
What’s on the menu?
Introduction to Zimbabwean Cuisine
- Traditional Ingredients & Cooking Methods – Exploring indigenous grains, wild herbs, and signature dishes.
- Cultural Significance – The history and evolution of Zimbabwean food.
- Challenges faced in Zimbabwean Culinary Practices
Chef-Led Sustainable Initiatives: ‘Whatz Cooking’ Project
- What is ‘Whatz Cooking’? – A community-driven project integrating local, seasonal, and wild ingredients into sustainable meals.
- Chefs as Community Leaders – How Fezile and Martin collaborate with farmers and communities to support traditional but sustainable food systems.
- Global-Local Connection – How chefs worldwide can learn from Zimbabwean culinary traditions and apply these lessons in their own kitchens.
Practical Information:
- Topic: Exploring Zimbabwean Cuisine
- Where: 14:00 CET on Zoom, Facebook Live, Twitter, and YouTube!
- When: March 20th, 2025
Our Partners
Sustainability Around the World is part of our Feed the Planet initiative, inspiring sustainable food consumption among communities and culinary professionals. Find out how to get involved at www.howtofeedtheplanet.com. Also, watch the previous episode of Sustainability Around the World Webcast here.
Founded by Worldchefs, Feed the Planet is run in partnership with Electrolux Food Foundation and AIESEC. Particularly, this initiative counts on the support of the Electrolux Food Foundation. Learn more about the Foundation here.
#ThisIsWorldchefs #ElectroluxFoodFoundation #ElectroluxProfessional #AIESEC #FeedThePlanet
Looking forward to seeing you at the webinar!
About the Speakers
Fezile Ncube
Manager of Whatz Cooking
Fezile Ncube, holds a phd in Adult Education, and has for more than 20 years led and initiated community empowering projects with particular focus on vulnerable women and children. Empowerment initiatives include learning about health, starting income generating projects, vegetable growing, to cooking. She has supported and helped thousands in her community.
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Martin Christensson
Initiator & Manager of Whatz Cooking
Maritn Christensson, a chefs and sausage makers son has worked 20 years for the UN as well as started two NGOs. He has spent more than 10 years in the region but is currently living and working out of Rome, Italy. He initiated the project and works to promote and connect it with international resources and working closely with Zimbabwean Chefs union.
Seafood Matters
Shonah Chalmers
Feed the Planet Chairwoman and Culinary Professor at Humber College
Shonah Chalmers concentrates focuses much of her culinary skills on Sustainable food practices. As a red seal trade papered chef and CCC accreditation (Certified Chef de Cuisine) in Canada. Shonah utilizes her 30 years of cooking knowledge to help shape the next generation of chefs.
Her culinary career has taken her from fine dining restaurants, catering, golf courses and hotels in Toronto to a ski resort in Gunma-ken Japan to a Chefs Tour Against Hunger in South Africa 2011. Shonah’s passion for sharing her culinary experiences led her to becoming an educator at Humber College 12 years ago and remains relevant in
the world of food as the Toronto branch Canadian Culinary Federation President for the last 10 years. Also, Chef Chalmers is accredited as a Worldchefs Certified
Continental Judge for both Vegan/Plant Based and Culinary Hot Kitchen and currently holds the role of Vice Chair for the Worldchefs Feed the planet and Sustainability committee, where she develops sustainable education models for food service professionals globally Chef Chalmers assists with many local, National and
International culinary initiatives; facilitating industry networking events, donating time to food banks, demonstrations on food repurposing & foraging. Much of Shonah’s energies continue to be focused on the sharing, mentoring & moving forward of the culinary industry for all cooks and chefs in a positive and inclusive way.
Seafood Matters
1000 Lives Changed
