FINDING THE MAGIC BALANCE

We've all heard the term 'work/life balance' but is it as black and white as we're led to believe? Three women share their experiences with Savanna Douglas, as we discover that balance is personal, and looks different to everyone

DANIELA GUTSTADT, 33, LIVES IN JOHANNESBURG WITH HER TWO DOGS, OLIVE, AND BARLEY DANIELA IS THE HEAD CHEF AND OWNER OF CULINARY TABLE, A GARDEN-TO-TABLE RESTAURANT, BUTCHERY, GROCERY, AND GOURMET FOODS MARKET.

Food has always been a huge part of my life. My passion took its roots growing up with my food-centric parents, Janet and Wehrner. As a young girl, my favourite spot would be out in the garden, picking basil for pesto, and ripening tomatoes on windowsills.

My course forward saw me complete my undergrad at UCT in 2012. From there, I set my sights on attending a culinary institute in NYC. I moved there in 2013 to complete my post-graduate diploma in culinary art, and spent the year doing my training, honing on specialties like bread and wine making. While living in the Big Apple, I worked my way through gruelling internships, which cemented my professionalism as a chef and gave me a taste of the very competitive, high-pressured environment I would be getting myself into – the world of food.

Fast-forward almost 10 years and I’m here, running my own restaurant, Culinary Table, in Johannesburg. I wear many hats in my business. Above being head chef, I oversee the daily operations that come along with keeping a restaurant and food market going, like organising events, scheduling supplier meetings, and sourcing items for the restaurant and for the market.