Chef Lucky’s Journey from Homelessness to Being Crowned The Taste Master SA Champ
Witnessing how talent, dreams and determination, when met with life-changing opportunities, can lift someone from their lowest point to their absolute highest is one of those good things that warm the heart and inspire the soul, time and time again.
From sleeping under a bridge on Joe Slovo Drive in downtown Johannesburg as a youngster and begging for his next meal, to this week being crowned the 2025 Taste Master South Africa champion, Lucky Mashudu Masinya’s story is nothing short of inspirational.
Currently working as a patisserie lecturer at the Johannesburg campus of Capsicum Culinary Studio in Rosebank, Chef Masinya says that his journey has been one of hope and perseverance.
“I am a Kasi boy who was once homeless and also once lived in a care home, and now I have won a national competition that I believe will change my life forever. It is never too late to start over. If I can do it, anyone can do it. Never give up – you never know who is watching!”
Now in its sixth season, The Taste Master SA featured 10 contestants, all of whom faced a diverse set of culinary and baking challenges, both sweet and savoury, under the guidance of lead judge Zola Nene and a raft of rotating guest judges.
Over the 11 weeks that the competition ran, participants faced weekly themed tasks designed to push their culinary storytelling, technique and presentation to the edge. This is where Masinya excelled, with dishes that not only combined modern rustic charm with fine-dining finesse, but ones that also were visually stunning and flavour‑rich!
Masinya’s prizes included R200 000 in cash.
“The moment my name was announced as the winner was totally surreal. My heart dropped and then started beating really fast. My right leg was shaking! I have been reliving the moment ever since – it’s one of those moments that I’ll forever cherish and hold close,” he says.
“I loved my time on the show – it’s not all the glitz and glam that everybody sees on television but it did stretch my creativity. What also inspired me were my colleagues, my students and my friends who have always believed in me.”
Masinya shared that every dish he made on the show reminded him of family and home.
“Food, for me, must feel like a hug. Going to restaurants is amazing but there is no food that tastes better than food that is cooked at home. So I made a creamy chicken pasta, roasted lamb and stuffed chicken and, on the sweet side, macarons, tiramisu and churros with caramel ganache.”
After leaving school, Masinya received a scholarship that enabled him to complete a diploma in patisserie and almost 10 years ago was given the opportunity to do an incredible work experience programme in London that included working with the best at the Ritz, Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons and Pretty Sweet and where he met celebrities such as Drake and Rihanna.
The culinary champ’s ultimate dream is to open a dessert bar in Johannesburg, using both the show and his experience as a platform to launch his culinary ambitions.
“I’ve always wanted to open and run a dessert bar in Johannesburg like Janice Wong did with her 2am: dessert bar in Singapore. South Africa is big on food, but we are not big when it comes to pastry, chocolates and desserts. So I’m busy steering the life of Lucky in that direction,” the inspiring chef says.”
