In this episode of A Table in the Corner, Russel sits down with Matt van den Berg, head chef at Mertia in Stellenbosch and one of the most quietly respected chefs in the Western Cape. Matt reflects on his unconventional path into cooking, from a BCom degree and life on yachts to training at Silwood and working in some of South Africa’s most demanding kitchens, including The Test Kitchen and La Colombe. He speaks candidly about discipline, long hours, kitchen culture, and the pressure of stepping out from established restaurant groups to find his own voice. The conversation explores Mertia’s evolving tasting menu, technical cooking, the challenge of simplicity, and what it means to build systems, teams and confidence in a small, highly focused restaurant. An honest, thoughtful discussion about ambition, self doubt, creativity and the realities of modern chef life in South Africa.
For more on Mertia, click here
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