Tadiwa Tendayi quit a full-time job and became an entrepreneur at 23 to pursue her passion of becoming a personal chef who creates intimate culinary experiences.
Ms Tendayi, now 27, has come a long way. She is now an international chef with experience in five-star hotels and top restaurants, and runs her own businesses – Satiate Luxe.
Her love for food started in her childhood, the Zimbabwe-born entrepreneur says, when she immersed herself in cookery books and TV shows.
Ms Tendayi left high school at 16 and started a diploma in cooking and culinary arts at the Southern African Hospitality Training Company. She was chosen to represent Zimbabwe at the Young Chef Olympiad in Kolkata.
Later, Ms Tendayi joined the Victoria Falls Hotel in Zimbabwe before moving to Abu Dhabi in 2019 as part of the pre-opening team for Tasha’s Al Bateen and then to Dubai with Avli by Tashas.
Her experience also includes being a full-time chef for a professional sportsperson living in the UAE.
Ms Tendayi spotted the niche of serving top-quality luxury culinary experiences to clients who wanted restaurant-standard fine dining without leaving their homes. She decided to take the plunge and launched Satiate Luxe in 2021 to provide personalised at-home dining experiences. The concept brings fine dining to people’s homes in different ways, including private chefs and gourmet meal plans.
Ms Tendayi lives in Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi.
Did wealth feature in your childhood? What did you learn from it?
My family comes from a good financial background. I went to private schools and while my parents did the best for me, they were always careful with money. Unfortunately, when my dad died when I was about 12 years old, there was a little bit of a drift in how money circulated in the household. Things got a bit tougher, but it didn't get to a struggle. It taught me that money comes and goes, and that's how I describe my relationship with it.
How did you first earn?
My first job was as a trainee sous chef at The Victoria Falls Hotel in Zimbabwe. I earned $120 a month.
Any financial jolts?
When I started my business, it was tough to manage setting up licensing costs and getting things in order. When I started the venture, I barely had enough money to survive. At some point, my family told me to get a full-time job.
A chef’s career is very challenging. When you work for a restaurant, it takes you a long time to get to the stage where you can create and build recipes. For me, it didn't define what I wanted. My passion is to cook food and see people enjoy it. When I started my business, I realised that being a private chef creates more intimate gatherings and more enjoyable experiences for my customers and me.
Starting a business is a journey. I'm now at the stage of realisation that when you start a business, it takes time to grow. It's just been building blocks for the business over the past four years. Moving forward, I am optimistic about making profit.
How do you grow your wealth?
Since my business revolves around me, I try to diversify and tap into other industries. I have recently started investing in technology start-ups in the UAE.
My first investment was an apartment in South Africa, which I recently sold to invest in the tech start-up. I hope that as my business grows, I can buy more real estate.
Are you a spender or a saver?
A bit of both. I enjoy buying nice things, but I'm very conscious about how I spend my money. I have different accounts where I put money away for holidays and a rainy day. If I want something, I slowly start putting money aside for it.
Have you been wise with money?
No, not all the time. Especially within my business, I find myself overspending on things that I don't need. Sometimes, the employee mindset kicks in and you start to forget that your start-up is not on the same level as the company you worked for.
Any cherished purchases?
The apartment in South Africa was a big one for me, because it's something that I really wanted at the time.
My goal is to consistently earn large income through my business since I am a salaried employee
Any financial advice for your younger self?
To understand that money is not everything, but it can buy you freedom. Also, to start investing more when I was younger. I had a full-time job, so there was a steady income and I could have made smaller investments. I wish I realised that investments don't have to be expensive. When you're younger, there are opportunities to invest in things for $200 a month. This could pay for a retirement plan.
Any key financial milestones?
No, I am not where I want to be yet. My goal last year was to make my first million in dirhams through my business, but I just missed it.
What are your financial goals?
My goal is to consistently earn a large income through my business since I am a salaried employee. As an entrepreneur, you pay yourself last. Also, I would like to invest more.
What luxuries are important to you?
Fragrances and travelling are important to me. I like to see things and eat luxurious food in fine dining restaurants. I am a major foodie and will pay anything for food.
How do you feel about money?
Money buys you freedom and lets you buy what you want, most of the time. It cannot buy you health but can contribute to good health. It cannot buy you family but buys you time to spend with family. However, money is not everything.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
RESULTS
Dubai Kahayla Classic – Group 1 (PA) $750,000 (Dirt) 2,000m
Winner: Deryan, Ioritz Mendizabal (jockey), Didier Guillemin (trainer).
Godolphin Mile – Group 2 (TB) $750,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Secret Ambition, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
Dubai Gold Cup – Group 2 (TB) $750,000 (Turf) 3,200m
Winner: Subjectivist, Joe Fanning, Mark Johnston
Al Quoz Sprint – Group 1 (TB) $1million (T) 1,200m
Winner: Extravagant Kid, Ryan Moore, Brendan Walsh
UAE Derby – Group 2 (TB) $750,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner: Rebel’s Romance, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
Dubai Golden Shaheen – Group 1 (TB) $1.5million (D) 1,200m
Winner: Zenden, Antonio Fresu, Carlos David
Dubai Turf – Group 1 (TB) $4million (T) 1,800m
Winner: Lord North, Frankie Dettori, John Gosden
Dubai Sheema Classic – Group 1 (TB) $5million (T) 2,410m
Winner: Mishriff, John Egan, John Gosden
What is a Ponzi scheme?
A fraudulent investment operation where the scammer provides fake reports and generates returns for old investors through money paid by new investors, rather than through ligitimate business activities.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Company%20Profile
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The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
Results
5pm: UAE Martyrs Cup (TB) Conditions Dh90,000 2,200m
Winner: Mudaarab, Jim Crowley (jockey), Erwan Charpy (trainer).
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap Dh70,000 1,400m
Winner: Jawal Al Reef, Richard Mullen, Hassan Al Hammadi.
6pm: UAE Matyrs Trophy (PA) Maiden Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner: Salima Al Reef, Jesus Rosales, Abdallah Al Hammadi.
6.30pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak (IFAHR) Apprentice Championship (PA) Prestige Dh100,000 1,600m
Winner: Bainoona, Ricardo Iacopini, Eric Lemartinel.
7pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak (IFAHR) Ladies World Championship (PA) Prestige Dh125,000 1,600m
Winner: Assyad, Victoria Larsen, Eric Lemartinel.
8pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown (PA) Group 1 Dh5,000,000 1,600m
Winner: Mashhur Al Khalediah, Jean-Bernard Eyquem, Phillip Collington.
Read more about the coronavirus
Brief scores:
Huesca 0
Real Madrid 1
Bale 8'
Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar
Director: Neeraj Pandey
Rating: 2.5/5
Evacuations to France hit by controversy
- Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
- Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
- The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
- Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
- It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
- Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
- Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The years Ramadan fell in May
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
25%20Days%20to%20Aden
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
