Send us a text Season 11 continues with another remarkable story of resilience, flavor, and fire featuring Chef Thinus Van Der, Culinary Director 99 Sushi Bar. From growing up in South Africa surrounded by braais and family kitchens to becoming a Michelin-star chef in the UAE, Thinus’s story is a masterclass in grit, gratitude, and growth. After surviving stage three brain cancer, he returned to the kitchen stronger than ever, leading teams, redefining Japanese fine dining in Abu Dhabi, and now guiding the global expansion of 99 Sushi across Monaco, Madrid, and beyond. In this powerful conversation, Thinus shares how his upbringing shaped his love for food, the lessons he learned from kitchens both chaotic and disciplined, and what it truly means to lead with humility. This is not just a story about food. It is about survival, second chances, and cooking with purpose. Proudly brought to you by our Season 11 sponsor: 👉 potatogoodness.com Potatoes USA represents America’s potato growers and is dedicated to inspiring chefs, home cooks, and food lovers around the world. From nutrition to creativity, they show why the humble potato is one of the most powerful ingredients in every kitchen. Follow them here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/potatogoodnessgcc/ Website: www.potatogoodnessgcc.com What you will hear in this episode • Growing up around fire, food, and family in South Africa • Lessons from old-school kitchens and the value of chaos • How Japanese cuisine changed his view on respect and craft • The story of surviving brain cancer and finding perspective • Building confidence and character through adversity • Transitioning from resorts to fine dining in the Middle East • The inside story of earning Abu Dhabi’s first Michelin star • What it really takes to keep a Michelin star once you win it • The expansion of 99 Sushi worldwide and leading with vision • Advice to young chefs on patience, humility, and purpose Chapters 00:00 Introduction and welcome to Season 11 05:00 Childhood food memories and South African traditions 14:00 First kitchen experiences and early chaos 27:00 Discovering Japanese cuisine and culinary respect 36:00 Coffee ventures, Mozambique, and finding purpose 42:00 Battling stage three brain cancer and rebuilding life 47:00 Moving to the Middle East and cultural growth 56:00 Winning the Michelin star and leading 99 Sushi 1:03:00 Becoming Culinary Director and global expansion 1:17:00 Lessons on leadership, resilience, and legacy 1:21:00 Closing thoughts and gratitude Follow Chef Thinus Van Der Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chef__thinus/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thinus-van-der-westhuizen-b13b0579/ Follow Chef JKP Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefjkppodcast/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-knight-paccheco-447b1b17/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jamesknightpaccheco If you enjoyed this episode, hit subscribe, leave a rating, and share it with someone who believes that food, like life, is best served with heart. 🥂✨ #chefjkp #season11 #thinusvander #99sushibar #michelinstar #dubairestaurants #cheflife #foodculture #foodismemories #leadership #resilience Support the show Follow The Chef JKP Podcast on Instagram HERE
