Niel du Plessis

Diploma-qualified culinary professional trained across café, fine-dining, hotel, retail-deli and function-catering kitchens, holding a City & Guilds Level 2 Diploma in Food Preparation and Culinary Arts and an Olive Chef School Diploma in Culinary Arts and Food Preparation. Completed a year of sustained workplace training at Postcard Café and The Vine Bistro in Stellenbosch, rotating through all principal kitchen stations and holding the dessert section for the greater part of the placement. Experienced in general food preparation, pastry and dessert work, fish filleting, kitchen hygiene and live service.

Culinary Trainee - THE VINE BISTRO - Stellenbosch

(2025-08 - 2026-05)

• Completed the principal workplace-based practical component of culinary training.
• Rotated through all principal kitchen stations, gaining exposure to the full kitchen operation.
• Held the dessert section for the greater part of the placement, managing mise en place, production, plating and service.
• Assisted with general kitchen preparation, including filleting fresh fish.
• Maintained food-safety, hygiene, quality and presentation standards under live service.

Culinary Trainee - POSTCARD CAFÉ - Stellenbosch

(2025-05 - 2025-08)

• Completed the initial portion of structured workplace training before an internal transfer to The Vine Bistro.
• Prepared pastries and baked goods, and assisted with food preparation and mise en place.
• Maintained kitchen hygiene and food-safety standards in a busy café environment.

Industry rotations - Olive Chef School - Bloemfontein, Loch Logan Waterfront

Industry rotations through Olive Chef School — BON Hotel, Bloemfontein (two weeks); Woolworths Café, Loch Logan Waterfront (six weeks); Pick n Pay Preller Walk Deli (six weeks).

Function and event catering - Olive Chef School - Bloemfontein

Function and event catering through Olive Chef School — preparation, mise en place, production, setup and service at Ramblers Club, the University of the Free State and the Central University of Technology.

Level 2 Diploma - Food Preparation and Culinary Arts (8064-01) - City & Guilds (2026-07-14)

Diploma - Culinary Arts and Food Preparation - Olive Chef School (2026)

National Senior Certificate - Jim Fouché High School (2023-12)