LIEZIE MULDER
Co-owner of île de païn bread and café

Liezie's love for food started early in life. Always in the kitchen with her mom who was an enthusiastic cook and entertainer. While pursuing a Bachelors degree in Landscape Architecture, Liezie waited tables at a local restaurant. Soon after that she teamed up with a friend and local Restaurateur to open Bootleggers Pub and Grill in Pretoria.

In 1996 she moved to the USA to hone her cooking skills and earned a two year Associates Degree in Culinary Arts. In 1998 she was granted a position at Rialto Restaurant in Cambridge Massachusets under Chef Jody Adams and worked her way through the kitchen and the dining room up to Restaurant Manager. During the five years at Rialto she also travelled extensively to train with artisan bakers in California, New York and New Hampshire.

In December 2002, Liezie opened île de païn bread and café with Markus, and created a comfortable, unpretentious place where people can come to share and enjoy honest and wholesome food. Her focus is using the best fresh local ingredients available and creating food that is jam-packed with flavour and fun to eat. Life at île de païn is easy and humble and is portrayed in their friendly and enthusiastic staff. In 2003 ile de pain was the Eat Out Magazine Johnny Walker Award for Best New Restaurant, op 100 Restaurant Award for 5 star Chef and Best specialist. She also won the"Top Specialist Award"and was named"5 Star Chef".

"I can not imagine doing anything else. I love what I do, I love cooking for friends and family and I am always in the kitchen. There is a connection between food and happiness."