10 Questions For: Justin Bonello

Justin Bonello is a filmmaker, presenter, author and cook, not to mention also the Head of Production at one of South Africa’s leading film production companies, Cooked in Africa Films. Cooked in Africa has produced over 21 television series across various national and international broadcasters including South Africa’s first original reality-based television cooking formatted series, Ultimate Braai Master. Other shows include Charly’s Cake Angels, Global Wheeling, Around Iceland on Inspiration, Beer Country and Surfs Cooking to name but a few.

1. How would you describe what you do for a living?
In one word: Lucky. In many it’s slightly more difficult. I often think of myself as a gardener, filmmaker, father, cook and traveller, and not necessarily in that order.

2. What is your most vivid childhood memory?
It would have to be the first time that my family and I went to the Wild Coast. I must’ve been six or seven. We travelled there on a three/four week trip in an old Land Cruiser pickup from Cape Town to Durban and back again. I remember my dad and mom fishing at Hole in the Wall (and this was before the hotel went up – possibly the late seventies). If I think about it, my love for travel was probably ignited then and there.

3. If you could invite any three people, dead or alive, for dinner, who would they be and why?
The late great Keith Floyd, David Bowie (now there’s a chameleon) and Uma Thurman (when she was in Twin Peaks). Just Imagine: Good food, good wine, good music and Uma.

4. If you ever found yourself auditioning for a music reality TV show, what song would you sing and why?
It would have to be David Bowies’ ‘Starman’: “There’s a Starman waiting in the sky, he’d like to come and meet us but he thinks he’ll blow our minds…” I always thought those words were indicative of our lack of evolution.

5. How would you complete this sentence? The South African cabinet should include a Minister of ___________________.
Urban Farming.

6. What would you say is the biggest misconception about you?
That I like to be in the public eye! I’m actually a very private person, and the worst thing about being perceived as a television personality is the loss of privacy.

7. What is your (honest) opinion of Cape Town?
Best city in the world. Where else can you climb a mountain, drink a glass of wine, have lunch at an award-winning restaurant and have leopards staring down on you … and, the chances are you get hit by four seasons in a day, so in Cape Town – you can always expect the unexpected.

8. What's the greatest fear you've had to overcome to get where you are today?
Am I good enough? Are my ideas worthwhile? Will what I do resonate with someone and inspire people? Failure!

9. What's the one thing you'd like to achieve before you die?
Might sound a bit strange, but I’d give my eyeteeth to stare back at earth from space and see our fragile planet from another perspective. On a more realistic perspective: I’d like to change how we live in urban environments. There’s something wrong about how as urban dwellers we’ve lost the connection to wild nature – how we disrespect that which in truth, keeps us alive.

10. Which well- known South African personality would you, without a doubt, be able to beat in a street fight and why?   
That Afrikaans singer with the wavy blonde hair. She’d be too focused on protecting her hairdo…

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ABOUT #CapeTownMag10Q:

CapeTownMagazine.com’s 10 Questions project gets to know some of the Mother City’s most creative and inspiring people. From television personalities and musicians to politicians and entrepreneurs, we find out more about well-known and up-and-coming Capetonians. You can follow #CapeTownMag10Q on Twitter and Facebook to track recent interviews or read more here about our other awesome 10 Questions candidates. 

A FEW OF OUR OTHER 10Q CANDIDATES:

10 Questions For Adventurer Davey du Plessis

10 Questions For Music Producer, DJ and Recording Artist Das Kapital

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Keen for a braai and don't know how? Here is your Guide To Becoming A Braai Master and where the Best Mother City Braai Spots are to showcase your new-found flaming talent!  

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