After completing several chefs’ courses and working in a variety of restaurants, sisters Zainab and Faatimah Paruk decided to start something unique, resulting in the birth of Chilli Chocolate Chefs in 2010.This family owned catering company is now making waves in the Durban culinary scene.

The company offers a wide spectrum of catering services, food demonstrations at schools and outdoor venues, training courses, in-home fine dining, fusion cuisine, desserts, candy and confectionary displays for special events. They are regularly featured in their local Lifestyle magazine, online and on radio, and have a hectic schedule of catering, food demo’s and interviews Zainab Paruk is A Christina Martin School of Cooking Graduate (with cum laude), studied under the best, Head Chef, Michelle Barry, herself an acclaimed chef and daughter of the founder of this school.

Her chef stints have included cooking up a storm at the Christina Martin Sage Restaurant and walking the catwalk at Fashion TV serving up delectable food with entertainment.Zainab spread her wings in 2008 into the freelance world of outdoor catering, highlights including the Durban July, the IPL Cricket and the table of Unity. A career highlight was her support role to world renowned Reza Mohammed at the Good food and Wine show demonstrations in Durban.Faatimah is a graduate (albeit cum laude) of one of Durbans top culinary schools, The Fusion Cooking School.

Her training experience included stints at popular restaurants including Sprigs, Makaranga Lodge and Cafe 1999. After that she moved into the innovative space of Refresh… launching a concept of serving up organic, healthy and scrumptious dishes while you shop. She moved on to be Head Chef at Indulge Restaurant and Lounge,  Another milestone is her perseverance with production and marketing of Zest, a magazine produced by Chilli Chocolate Chefs.