Itsweng has established a sound reputation in the food and restaurant industries in South Africa over the last 15 years, after she left a career in media planning to follow her passion for all things culinary. She has worked as a chef for Woolworths, and was a partner in Lotsha, a restaurant in Rosebank, Johannesburg, that specialised in contemporary African cuisine. On the restaurant’s closure, she continued its brand by producing and marketing the Lotsha range of sauces relishes and spice mixes.

She was chosen as one of five South African chefs to create and produce the menu for the final gala dinner at the 2010 World Economic Forum, when South Africa was asked to host this momentous event.

Itsweng is ready to tackle perceptions about the priority that True Love readers place on food. “I’m determined to drive home the fact that our market is about so much more than pap and chakalaka,” Itsweng says. “True Love is all about modern black South African women carving a new identity for themselves, whether it’s in fashion, make-up or relationships. The magazine’s food features will now reflect this new, changing and growing identity too.”

“I want to bring a fresh way of cooking to True Love's readers,” she says. “Our readers don’t want complicated food, but they do want to feel like they’re producing something remarkable when they cook. I’m going to show them interesting ways to make impressive dishes with seasonal produce and affordable ingredients – there are so many easy ways to produce really outstanding dishes.”

When she’s cooking in her own kitchen, Itsweng cites spices as her favourite ingredients, with a particularly fondness for ginger. “Spices give you the power to make something spectacular out of just a few ingredients, if you understand how the flavours work together,” she says.

Itsweng also shares her passion for food on Bob Mabena’s 180 show on KayaFM in a 10 minute slot on Friday mornings, and when she’s not whipping up a culinary storm in the kitchen, she enjoys ice-skating with her son and best friend. She is also passionate about photography.