Wander Bester

Chef

Wander grew up in Bloemfontein and later moved to the Kalahari, which he describes as a life changing experience. He then moved to the beautiful Swellendam and eventually settled in Hermanus, where he had the privilege of working under Chef Peter Templehoff as part of the opening team of Origins restaurant at The Marine. After two years there, he worked at Pear Tree for five years under the guidance and mentorship of owner Petri Hendricksz. He left Pear Tree in March 2023 to fully pursue his career as a private chef, as well as focussing on his own brand, Poke Oukie. He is now a co-owner of The Eatery in Hermanus, where he serves delicious eats and coffees.