Danielle Speek on Her The Taste Master SA Exit, Honouring Food And Finding Confidence

This week’s episode of The Taste Master SA took the competition to the heart of the Western Cape coastline for a salt-splashed, flavour-packed challenge, and saw Pretoria’s Danielle Speek hang up her apron after a powerful run on the show.

With only four contestants remaining, the stakes were higher than ever as the episode paid tribute to South Africa’s coastal bounty. Contestants travelled to the iconic Hout Bay Harbour, where they were immersed in the world of fresh, local fish and traditional seafood techniques. A masterclass by Chef Tim Pick of Ember & Oak  set the tone for the challenge: create a unique seafood takeaway experience that captures flavour, culture, and creativity.

Danielle, a UX designer by day and experimental baker by heart, captured hearts with her rustic, intuitive approach to cooking and her love for sourdough. As she officially exits the show, Danielle reflects on her journey.

This dish was a tribute to the street vendors who cook over fire and serve takeaway that feels like home. Rooibos is so me, and I was inspired by those Sunday smoked snoek braais at home. I really wanted to celebrate that nostalgic fish and chips moment but elevate it with local flavour and memory.

What a wonderful challenge. I actually loved working with the whole animal and honouring it as best I could. Seeing where our food comes from was really special. It pushed me out of my usual comfort zone and taught me so much.

Definitely using every part of the animal and really thinking about how to taste, layer textures and build depth of flavour. That idea of making every element intentional really stuck with me, and I know it’s something I’ll carry forward.

I’m most proud that I stayed true to myself and kept telling my story through my food. The one moment that will stay with me when I think about my time in the competition is when I won the game day snacks challenge. That moment was a turning point for me because it made me realise I am so much more capable than I thought and I need to be more confident in myself.

I want to keep building my content and teaching around sourdough and seasonal baking. I love helping people feel excited and confident in the kitchen. I’d love to keep sharing that passion online in a way that feels real and fun.

It started as a way to slow down and challenge myself to an artisan craft. Sourdough taught me patience and how to listen instead of just controlling. I fell in love with the process and it’s now such a big part of my life and identity.

I think you can really see on the show how I evolved and came out of my shell. I slowly started believing in myself more and more, and that’s been the biggest gift. As a cook, I’ve become braver and more creative. As a person, I feel stronger and more grounded. This whole journey showed me that real growth happens when you step into discomfort and just go for it.

Catch new episodes of ‘The Taste Master SA’ every Tuesday at 19:30 on SABC 2, with repeats on Wednesdays at 13:00 and Sundays at 16:00.