Mynardt Joubert's journey into food and wine probably already had its origins in his life as a performing artists where he started his career.
There are so many similarities between the stage and the food industry: the wonderful creative energy, the intense discipline and the one opportunity to get it right!
He arrived in the Cape twelve years ago and found himself working in a wine bar in De Waterkant. A whole world of food and wine started unfolding in front of him and he fell hopelessly in love with the craft in all its facets.
After spending some time in Cape Town managing restaurants, his path led him to Riebeek Kasteel where he met the formidable Anton Espost and his wife Cecile. They had a dream to establish a peasant wine bar and eatery and so ‘Bar Bar Black Sheep’ was born. "The memory of this time lies like a glimmering jewel in my mind," says Mynardt.
They cooked and prepared food of love locally sourced, much of it grown by themselves and served in the simplest and most flavoursome combinations. The biggest lesson learned was that simple and honest food and wine will always have the best results.
After five years in Riebeek Kasteel Mynhardt took so many valuable lessons from this time in his life and, rich in the experience of cooking heritage food with love, entered kykNET’s reality cooking competition Kokkedoor. This proved to be an experience of a life time and with his cooking partner Tiaan they won the competition.
Many good things flowed from this. Mynhardt got to design and style his very first cook book for the Kokkedoor edition and together the two of them started cooking up a storm through South Africa. Through Makietie, a second series, he got to know the brand managers from KWV and got to be appointed as the brand ambassador for the KWV's Cathedral Cellar marketing campaign.
"So many wonderful opportunities and doors have opened up for me and I found myself living a truly blessed life."