About

Hi, I am Yolandi, founder of aZestyLife

aZestyLife is a food & lifestyle business that I started in 2013. At the time, I was a new mom & had just left my full-time job in the media & magazine industry. I’ve always had a dream of becoming a real chef, so in mid-2023 I completed my professional culinary training from one of South Africa’s best chef schools, so today I can marry my love for communications with food in a more official way.

On this website, you will find really delicious recipes & some lifestyle inspiration thrown in. I also offer bespoke Public Relations services – see more info below.

Enjoy!

The longer version – for those who might be interested

Hi, I’m Yolandi North, founder of aZestyLife. I am a public relations specialist, food blogger, content creator & recipe developer based in the vibrant city of Johannesburg, South Africa. aZestyLife is where you will find my favourite recipes, tips, ideas & lifestyle inspiration that will add Zest to your everyday life.

The formative part of my career was spent in the public relations, magazine & media industries, but I have always gravitated towards food & creating beautiful spaces.

At the age of 40, I decided to go to chef school to learn even more about this subject that I love so dearly. I believe that food brings people together in a way that nothing else can. Once you have shared a meal with someone, you have set the tone for something special.

My food philosophy: Cook & eat seasonal. Focus on keep recipes simple & packed with flavour.

How can we work together? There are two parts to my business:

1) Public Relations & Influencer Engagement: I bring a wealth of knowledge, industry contacts & know-how when working with your food/lifestyle brand. My expertise includes creating a public relations strategy or campaign that will make your brand shine on your own platforms & on more traditional platforms like magazines & websites. I also offer blog writing, influencer engagement & management, crisis communications.  

2) Content Creation & Recipe Development: I really love collaborating with like-minded brands to create content & recipes for my own platforms. Creating a recipe reel or static Instagram post are some of my favourite kinds of collaborations. My recipes are always seasonally inspired & delicious.

3) Food Reviews: Nothing beats discovering new restaurants, wines, chefs & dining experiences.

Credentials & Education:

*BCom Communication Management & BCom (Hons) Marketing Management, University of Pretoria, South Africa

*City & Guilds Level 2 Diploma in Professional Cookery, Prue Leith Chefs Academy, South Africa

Connect with me on social media on Instagram & Facebook or email azestylife@gmail.com.