From juggling motherhood to facing fierce competition on Drukkoker, Lizelle Solomon shows how embracing pressure can lead to incredible personal and professional transformation.
Lizelle Solomon is many things – an excellent baker, a devoted mother of three, a skilled teacher, and an entrepreneur with a knack for creating delicious treats that truly tantalise the taste buds. Best known for her exquisite French macarons and cheesecakes, Lizelle’s passion for baking shines through everything she makes.
Originally from Klerksdorp in the North West, Lizelle now lives in Alberton. ‘I always said I would never move to Johannesburg,’ she admits, ‘but in 1993, I relocated here.’
Before fully committing to baking, she spent 10 years working as a travel agent, a career that took her around the world. ‘I can confidently say that this is where my taste developed for different types of food,’ she shares.
The pressure cooker experience
Lizelle’s baking journey has been filled with exciting challenges. She gained valuable TV experience on the cooking competition show Drukkoker, where she describes the atmosphere as ‘a second home’, even though the shooting days were long, running from 9am until 9pm.
Like her entry into The Taste Master SA, Lizelle applied for Drukkoker at the last minute after seeing the competition on Facebook and was chosen. She recalls, ‘I was up against four male chefs. The concept of the show was ‘a new restaurant’, so if you win, you get money to start your own restaurant. When I think back to my experience on the show, I could say that it was more intense than MasterChef.
‘The producer told me, ‘It’s not only to make you win, it’s to make you grow. Through the journey on the show, it’s made me grow.
‘The pressure was like being in a pressure cooker,’ says Lizelle. ‘The person who walked in there was not the same person who walked out.’
The experience also taught her that anything is possible. ‘I never thought I would get onto the show because there were many entries and they only chose five chefs and five restaurant managers.’
Lizelle was inspired to enter because she loves the pressure of TV cooking shows. ‘I found that business has been quiet the last two years and like many other businesses, the industry is struggling,’ she explains. Her company, Le Petit Artisan Treats, specialises in high-end baking, which has been tough as fewer people host events these days. ‘I had to reinvent myself,’ she emphasises.
Her reinvention
Though baking has always been her first love, and she’s been in the baking industry for 13 years, competing in a cooking show was a new challenge.
‘If you put ingredients in front of me, I want to bake. So it was a challenge for me competing on the cooking show,’ she says. But she took the risk and already sees the difference it has made, both personally and professionally.
Her journey on Drukkoker came at a pivotal time. ‘It was important for me to reinvent myself because of my divorce. Often when people get divorced you get a settlement but you still have to survive afterwards.’
One of her most overwhelming moments on the show was the first challenge, where contestants had just one hour to create a signature dish. Lizelle chose a spicy autumn trio of French macarons – pumpkin spice, bacon and maple syrup, and citrus flavoured. To add to the pressure, managers came around for a speed dating-style chat while she was preparing the dish.
‘From the very beginning, it was hell’s bells,’ Lizelle shares. ‘You’re in a kitchen you’ve never worked in before, you don’t know where everything is, and the ingredients were surprises.’ Despite this, she bonded well with the other competitors. ‘One of the best things is walking away inspired by such great chefs,’ she adds.
Inspiring women through baking and entrepreneurship
The experience gave Lizelle confidence not just in the kitchen but in life. ‘Even in my day-to-day life as a single mother and entrepreneur, I know now ‘I’ve got this’.’
She is passionate about inspiring women. ‘I see a lot of women who are brilliant in what they do but they don’t see it in themselves, and that’s one of the reasons I started my bakery, it’s to inspire women to believe in themselves.’
Lizelle jokes that the pressure on Drukkoker was even higher than the pressures she faces in real life. ‘The pressure on the show was a little more than my daily life but I enjoyed it thoroughly.’ It made her realise her own capabilities and taught her to never give up. ‘I’ve reinvented myself in many aspects of life, especially in business.
‘At 55, I’m still learning,’ she proudly says. ‘When I walked into Drukkoker, I thought ‘this is me’, but I grew some more. I think in life we should never become stagnant.’
Her message is clear: ‘Never stop living. I have always been someone who carries on despite any hardships or obstacles.’
Daily rituals for staying calm under pressure
Lizelle’s daily ritual to stay calm is simple but powerful. Every morning, she chooses five positives in her life to be grateful for. ‘It’s so easy to creep into a black hole of depression and doubt, but I am so grateful to my three children, my partner, and the support of my friends who keep me grounded,’ she says.
Additionally, what Lizelle takes away most from her TV experience is the chance to make a difference. ‘If there’s one message I’d like viewers to take away from my journey on Drukkoker, it’s to never stop living. I see women my age going through menopause and just giving up on themselves and life. I wish for women to enjoy life more, take care of themselves, and find time to do the things they love. Don’t stop enjoying life because life is so short.’
New ventures
Looking ahead, Lizelle is excited about starting her private chef long-table events this spring and summer, and she’s planning more events.
She is also thrilled about a new business concept coming to life at Kamers vol Geskenke. Her journey is one of courage and a true inspiration for anyone who wants to follow their passion, no matter the challenges. Her ideal restaurant is a theatrical 5-star Michelin restaurant that only serves desserts.
Text: DESNAY PETERSON. Photo: Misha Jordaan. Makeup: Makeup by Charnie.
