Farewell Chef François

GEORGE NEWS - The iconic François Ferreira (62), beloved celebrity chef, award-winning food author and principal of the François Ferreira Academy, passed away peacefully at his home in George on Wednesday 31 May, shortly after 13:00.

Ferreira will be remembered as a gifted "food evangelist", as he became known in the South African hospitality industry. He was loved for his flamboyant and convivial personality and respected for his vast food knowledge and experience as a chef.

His passionate love of the culinary industry eventually led him to teach others through the academy which he founded in George in 2004.

"François was a true professional culinary artist who lived to elevate and upgrade the level of training for young chefs long before the opening of the François Ferreira Academy near the George Airport in 2022," said Catherine Eybers, campus manager of the academy.

Ferreira served as the national president of the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs South Africa and the chairperson of the SA Chefs Association for the Garden Route. He was an honorary member of the Baillage National d’Afrique du Sud, the Academy of Chefs, and the South African Brandy Guild.

He authored four books, all of which won International Gourmand World Awards. He has been the "Glanskok" (glamour chef) on the national Afrikaans radio station, RSG for 13 years and a regular on television screens.

Ferreira started his journey in hospitality in 1979 in the South African Air Force. In 1982 he was appointed as lecturer at the Air Force Cookery School in Valhalla. He won the SA Air Force Chef of the Year award for two consecutive years.

In 1983, he started working on an ad hoc basis for the household of former Prime Minister PW Botha and in 1988 was transferred to the State President’s office and appointed as head of the household of the administrator-general of Namibia.

In 1992 he joined the household of President FW de Klerk as household manager and later comptroller of the household, until the inauguration of President Nelson Mandela in 1994.

After working as head chef at a few restaurants in Pretoria, he was a consultant for various restaurants and lodges in Cape Town and Namibia. He then found his passion for teaching and training, and from 2000 to 2003 was appointed as head of hotel and restaurant services at South Cape College in Oudtshoorn. In 2004, Ferreira ventured out on his own, starting the François Ferreira Academy in the heart of George. It relocated to the premises near the George Airport in 2022.

Elsie Harmse, CEO of UXi Artisan Development that the academy is affiliated with, said Ferreira respected everyone for their uniqueness. "As François beautified food, he also did with life. He did not only share his food talent, but showed young people the nature of people within food. Nothing ever was too much for François. He was always there for all in need of his attention and selected everyone and everything in his life by hand.”

Chef Catherine Eybers, campus manager at the academy, said in his 44 years in the industry, Ferreira established himself as a legend and his legacy is solidly embedded in the team of qualified chefs and facilitators trained to his hand, and in the number of current chefs and hospitality learners at the academy.

"Consequently, his training foundation will continue."

Ferreira requested that a celebration of his life be held. Friends, colleagues and family are requested not to send flowers but rather consider financial contributions to benefit the new François Ferreira Support Fund Trust which benefits the training of future chefs in need of support.

For account details, phone Catherine Eybers on 083 386 6144.

Elsie Harmse, CEO of UXi Artisan Development, with 'Glanskok' François Ferreira.