Born and raised in Durban, Neha Valjee is known as a culinary explorer.
Valjee’s passion for food stems from a personal interest in innovative cooking techniques.
In an interview with Independent Media Lifestyle, the 27-year-old, who is a chef and the owner of Splat, a restaurant in Glenashley in Durban North, said she was fortunate to have parents who embraced the idea of exposing her to diverse cultures worldwide.
Valjee said the exposure enriched her understanding of religion, cuisine, beliefs and customs and instilled a profound curiosity within her.
“During our travels, my parents often arranged food and market excursions, knowing my enthusiasm for learning.
“A memorable lesson from a cooking class in Vietnam resonated with me – the notion that food serves as both fuel for the body and medicine for the soul,” she said.
Valjee said the turbulent start of the Covid-19 pandemic, which led to a transition to remote work during lockdown, revealed her true calling. Experimenting with cooking and going into the culinary world during breaks from work shed light on the path to her genuine joy.
“In July 2021, I enrolled at the South African Hospitality Institute, initiating a journey that concluded with my certification as a chef in July 2022. Following this, I founded my catering business, The Hunnie Pot, operating from my home.
“This endeavour enabled me to build a loyal customer base, ultimately motivating me to explore the idea of owning a restaurant.”
“The decision to launch a restaurant was a collaborative family effort. Collectively, we conceptualised the unique ambiance of Splat.
“Curating a bespoke menu was a gratifying experience, driven by our goal to offer a diverse culinary selection in Durban, and cater to individuals with diverse dietary needs, including vegans, vegetarians those who follow halaal practices and enthusiasts of meat-based dishes, as we pride ourselves on inclusivity and diversity,” said Valjee.
“Each individual possesses a unique approach to cooking, often influenced by family traditions.
“Growing up in an Indian household, I draw inspiration from the culinary practices of my mother and grandmothers, allowing me to uphold and infuse my cultural heritage into my dishes while incorporating elements from other culinary traditions to add my personal touch.
“I define my cooking style as a fusion of diverse culinary influences from around the globe, blending various elements to craft distinctive dishes that harmonise multiple cultural flavours into a singular bite.
“The aim is to celebrate the rich diversity of tastes worldwide within each culinary creation.”
Valjee said the idea of the restaurant quickly gained attention in the community even before its doors opened.
“This endeavour has been a fulfilling journey that I embrace wholeheartedly. Each day presents new challenges and successes in pursuit of my dream. Establishing Splat has provided individuals with a venue to forge lasting memories, partake in celebrations and find comfort, marking it as our most significant achievement.”
Valjee said that while running the restaurant, she was also a co-owner at PN Property Management where she manages properties under holiday rental companies, as well as facilitating rentals and sales of real estate properties.
With the restaurant, she said they aspired to establish it as a distinguished household brand beyond merely a restaurant, distribute their unique offerings in corporate retail outlets and expand the presence of the restaurant to various provinces across South Africa.