- Phakamisa Kolisi has been in the culinary industry for the past 15 years. The seasoned chef has worked in restaurants such as the Twelve Apostles in Cape Town and the distinguished Ibis Country Club in the United States of America.
- Gqerha’s Kolisi became an orphan as a teenager, and due to the circumstances he found himself in, he learnt to cook for sustain himself and his brother.
- Kolisi has launched a fine dining restaurant called Phaka in Richmond Hill, in Gqeberha, with the support of the NMBM Economic Development Tourism and Agriculture Directorate, ECDC, ABSA, Ubuntu Partways and Seda.
Phakamisa Kolisi has been a chef for 15 years, and he has shared his skills in kitchens worldwide, from the Twelve Apostles in Cape Town to the prestigious Ibis Country Club in the United States.
Originally from Gqeberha, Kolisi’s passion for fine dining and exquisite taste shines through in his cuisine. His journey is remarkable. Orphaned as a teen, he learned to cook to support himself and his brother.
At Umzi Wethu in 2007, he honed his skills and found a family among fellow students. Now, his Phaka Restaurant in Gqeberha employs 12 staff members who are all under 25, due to Kolisi’s love of empowering youth.
A fine dining experience is promised at Phaka, a Xhosa word meaning “to dish out” but is also a shortened version of his name. Phaka was recently launched in Richmond Hill adding a new twist to the existing restaurants.
Kolisi had the privilege of being backed by the NMBM Economic Development Tourism and Agriculture Directorate, ECDC, ABSA, Ubuntu Partways and Seda.
Tailor-made services are available should a guest not wish to order the items on the menu. Wine pairing services are also on offer.
“I enjoy seeing people happy, and food is one of the things that make people happy, good food,” Kolisi chuckled.
“At Phaka, we aim to serve people food that not only tastes good and nourishes the body, but helps create beautiful memories as well. The staff are all passionate and talented, I’m very grateful to them, and for all the support I’ve been getting as well,” the new entrepreneur concluded.
