Raw Ginger is setting the streets of Gauteng ablaze with their retro-style food trucks. Picture this: a custom-built 80’s VW kombi and a converted Mercedes school bus cruising around, dishing out American-inspired street food good enough to write home about. Just the thought of their signature BBQ balsamic pulled beef, herb aioli crumbed chicken, and sweet chilli mint halloumi is enough to make your taste buds dance with excitement. And trust me, their slogan doesn’t lie: best food truck; best street food!
Living the dream
Chef Jo, the brains behind Raw Ginger, hails from a long line of European culinary masters. When he was just 18, he teamed up with his sister-chef at a fine dining restaurant in Sunward Park, where his creativity was unleashed and daring textures and flavours were explored. Fast-forward 18 years, and Chef Jo is finally living his dream, combining his love for cars with his passion for food.
Culinary Adventure
This fiery-haired chef honed his skills under the guidance of Chef Charles Gyzen, a seasoned member of the SA IKA Culinary Olympics team. For 12 long years, Chef Jo embarked on a culinary adventure, diving deep into the world of exquisite ingredients, herbs, and spices. With unwavering dedication, he garnered a multitude of distinguished diplomas, worked his way up the kitchen ranks, and even became one of the top chefs at a prestigious catering company in Sandton, Gauteng. But with all the glitz came the not-so-glamorous side of the industry: crazy hours, physical and mental exhaustion, and being taken for granted.
Family
Then, in 2017, Chef Jo became a proud father and decided to trade his trusty knives for a sales rep laptop. Embracing the 9-5 grind and the joys of being a dad, he welcomed his second son in 2018. However, when the pandemic hit, sales went down the drain, and Chef Jo knew he had to take matters into his own hands. He saw an opportunity and seized it—buying his very own food truck, a rad 80’s VW kombi. With his knives sharpened and that familiar steel in his hands, he knew deep down that this was the legacy he wanted to leave for his boys.
Bread buttered on both sides
Chef Jo is constantly pushing the boundaries of menu design and flavour exploration, but his dishes never forget their roots—his mom’s cooking. Together with his talented wife, Lauren Fidler, an acclaimed screenwriter and director, they spend their weekdays coaching their sons, who want to be just like their dad when they grow up. And on weekends, Chef Jo lives out his culinary fantasies, reinventing and experimenting with flavours that will blow your mind. It’s no wonder where his original slogan of “breaking your kitchen rules” came from.
Their mission is simple: to provide top-notch, soul-nourishing food that is a feast for both your eyes and taste buds – with quality and exquisite flavours in everything they create.
The Magic of Raw Ginger
Chef Jo’s story perfectly embodies the idea that you can indeed have it all. He’s living proof that you can follow your passion, be an amazing parent, and create something truly extraordinary. Oh, and in case you were wondering why they chose the name Raw Ginger—just take a look at the vibrant colour of Chef Jo’s hair! It’s all part of the fun and magic that Raw Ginger brings to the streets of Gauteng.
