Serendipity Restaurant ~ The Chef

Lizelle Stolze – executive chef & co-owner

Lizelle Stolze, is addicted to good food. She enjoys a cup of fresh, strong coffee, darkest chocolate, freshly baked olive foccacia and a chunk of artisan cheese!

A graduate of Pretoria University, she obtained the degree B Com in Hotel and Tourism Management after which she gained top honours as a dux Cum laude student of Prue Leith Academy of Food and Wine. She has also lectured at Prue Leith Academy of Food and Wine as a professional lecturer. Lizelle is a Fellow member of SACA, the South African Chefs Association and a Honoraire Vice Conceilleire Culinaire of the Chaine Des Rotisseurs.

Lizelle worked at The Michelangelo in Sandton and at Fancourt Hotel, Country Club and Golf Estate in George. She has gained international experience in Florida, USA.


Annually during her winter breaks she visits other establishments both nationally and internationally. She regularly visits Michelin Star establishments in Europe to keep abreast of international food trends and principles. She is also a sought after demonstration chef and presents Culinary Workshops at Serendipity annually during the winter months, May to September.

Lizelle is an idealist and has, during 2001, together with her husband Rudolf, founded Serendipity Restaurant, which was from the second season one of the Top 100 Restaurants in South Africa. In 2010 the South African Tourism Association chose her as one of the Top 10 Young chefs and in 2013 she was chosen by SATourism as one of the Top 10 Women Chefs in South Africa.