From standing on a chair in her grandmother’s kitchen to owning her own food trailer, Laurentia “Aunty Lau” George’s story is one of faith, determination, and the power of community.
At just eleven years old, George (42) was already learning the ropes of cooking in her grandmother’s Jansenville kitchen. “I watched, I listened, and I asked how to do things,” she recalls with a smile. “Our family always cooked big pots of food. There was always enough for anyone passing by.”
Hospitality was a way of life in her family. “Because our house was on a corner, long-distance truck drivers often stopped by for a meal. Sometimes they even stayed the night,” she laughs. “We ate together, laughed together, and that’s where my love for cooking was born.”
From dishwasher to sous-chef
When George moved to St Francis Bay at sixteen, she started working in restaurant kitchens without realising she was laying the foundation for her culinary career. Her big break came at Kamwaki restaurant one busy evening.
“The owner ran out of roti one night,” she says. “I told her I could help because I knew how to make them.”
That moment changed everything. The owner, Penny Bowden-Botham, quickly recognised her talent and promoted her from dishwasher to sous-chef in 2001. “She taught me everything, from kitchen hygiene and ‘first in, first out’, to how to prepare and plate dishes professionally,” says George.
When Bowden-Botham later returned to London, George continued to hone her skills at some of St Francis Bay’s top restaurants, including The Links, Chez Patrick, Tails and Thyme, and Endless Summer.
Tough times and perseverance
But when work slowed down, George did what she has always done. She adapted. “I worked for a construction company sorting thatch for roofing. My hands were raw at night, but I kept going because I had to put food on the table,” she says.
Later, she found work cleaning newly built houses, using harsh chemicals to get them move-in ready. “I did whatever I could to support my family,” she says quietly.
A new beginning
When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, George once again found herself unemployed. “I asked the Lord to guide me,” she says softly. “2021 was tough, but I realised He had a different plan for my life.”
With her SRD grant money, she bought chicken, potatoes, spices, and packaging and began selling takeaway meals outside local taverns. “I just wanted to put bread on the table,” she says. “But God had something bigger in mind.”
A newspaper article about the Hlalisana Township Incubator introduced her to a new opportunity. “I knew I needed help to start a business. When I joined Hlalisana, things began to change,” she says. With support from Kouga Local Municipality, the ECDC, and SEFA, she received catering equipment in June and her dream began to take shape.
From Calamari Festival to Kitchen Queen
George’s persistence paid off. “I always entered the Calamari Festival but never won,” she says. “In 2022 I came third, in 2023 I was second, and in 2024 I finally won. Persistence pays off!”
Now crowned Calamari Queen 2024, she is setting her sights even higher. “My biggest dream is to travel, taste dishes from other countries, and document my food journey. I’m hungry to learn more,” she says, her eyes bright with excitement.
She also hopes to use her success to uplift others. “A year from now, I want to start franchising Aunty Lau’s Food Trailer. I also want to get an ice-cream trailer and a candy floss maker. There are so many children in our community.”
The news that her trailer would be stationed in Cape St Francis this December felt like divine timing. “I always wanted to be based there, but never told anyone. I was too shy to ask. When I heard the news, my jaw dropped,” she laughs.
Faith, family, and gratitude
Through it all, George credits her husband Derick for being her rock. “He supports me in everything. He grounds me and teaches me patience. I struck gold with him,” she says warmly.
When her food trailer was finally delivered, it felt like the closing of one chapter and the start of another. “I always thought it was too expensive, that I would never afford it. But when I saw it standing there, all I could say was, ‘Thank You, Lord. The struggle is over.’ That night, I kept looking out my bedroom window at my trailer. It was a prayer come true.”
From a young girl standing on a chair to reach the stove to a woman running her own food business, Laurentia “Aunty Lau” George’s journey is a celebration of resilience, faith, and community. It proves that no dream is ever too small to grow.
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