Lorna Maseko to Host eKhaya Dinner Residency in Atlanta, Aims to Bring SA Cuisine to the US

• Celebrity chef Lorna Maseko is heading to Atlanta on 10 September to host her eKhaya Dinner Residency
• Maseko spotted a gap in the US market for South African cuisine and is now pushing to fill it
• The 43-year-old chef has bigger plans beyond the dinner, including opening a US restaurant and expanding her Pinch of Salt brand

Celebrity chef and former Top Billing presenter Lorna Maseko is on a mission to put South African food on the American map. The 43-year-old is gearing up to host her eKhaya Dinner Residency in Atlanta on 10 September, serving up an elevated taste of Mzansi cuisine to guests across the Atlantic.

Lorna Maseko eyes a gap in the US market

Maseko has been shuttling between South Africa and the United States as she works to build her culinary brand internationally. Her ambition to take SA food abroad is not new, it was sparked during her participation in global food events such as Taste of London and Taste of Dubai. The US, however, has become her primary focus.

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She noted that while many Americans who visit South Africa rave about the food, dedicated South African restaurants are scarce on US soil. That gap is exactly what she intends to fill, introducing American audiences to bold and familiar Mzansi flavours like chakalaka, boerewors and magwinya.

From eKhaya to a lasting US presence

The name of her Atlanta event says it all. ‘eKhaya’ means ‘home’ in Zulu and Xhosa, and Maseko chose it deliberately; she wants guests to feel the warmth of a South African home, expressed through refined, restaurant-quality cooking.

Beyond the September dinner, her sights are set on opening a fully fledged restaurant in the US and expanding her Pinch of Salt product range into the American market. For now, establishing her presence in Atlanta is the priority.

Maseko has also been refreshingly candid about the emotional weight of entrepreneurship. She acknowledged that building a brand across borders is not easy and said she has no shame in asking for support. She is actively encouraging South Africans to help spread the word about the eKhaya Dinner Residency by tagging Atlanta-based creators, media personalities and community figures who could boost the event's visibility.

Her goal is for the dinner to sell out, and for it to be just the beginning of a long-term chapter for South African cuisine in the United States. Maseko remains steadfast in her belief that SA food deserves a seat at the global table, and she is determined to be the one who pulls up that chair.

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Lorna Maseko celebrates major milestone

Lorna Maseko has earned a place on the 2026 Africa's 100 Most Impactful People in Tourism & Hospitality list.

The celebrated chef was recognised for taking African cuisine to global audiences and promoting South Africa's food culture.

Source: Briefly News