Bio
Chef Alan Bender has been a qualified chef for over 30 years and is acknowledged as a Fellow Master Chef of the South African Chefs Association, having owned numerous restaurants and catering businesses in South Africa. His skills also afforded him the opportunity to cater in the bush as part of 5-star safari establishments. He is a true perfectionist with an "everything is possible" mindset.
Some of Chef Alan's proudest career moments include cooking a dinner for Nelson Mandela and catering for kosher travellers in South Africa's luxury safaris.
Now based in Sydney's Upper North Shore in St Ives, Chef Alan is one of the only fully Kosher certified private chefs in the Upper North Shore and St Ives area. Originally from South Africa, he has worked across a wide variety of restaurants, including Michelin starred venues, and built deep experience across many cuisines before focusing exclusively on fully Kosher services.
Chef Alan's commitment to Kashrut and tradition is central to his family life and the way he runs his business. He operates Soul Gourmet, a fully Kosher certified catering company, and provides services across the Upper North Shore and wider Sydney area through our Catering and Order (Pesach) pages.
Chef Alan offers:
- Private chef services in home, from intimate dinners to ongoing meal support and subscriptions
- Event catering for celebrations, corporate functions, and community gatherings
- Shabbos and Chaggim catering, including full menus and tailored support to suit your household's needs and standards
For intimate dinners and private chef requests, please use the Contact page. For menu ordering and catering bookings, use Order (Pesach) and Catering.
He travels throughout Sydney, from the Lower North Shore to the Northern Beaches, bringing restaurant-level quality, warm personal service, and meticulous attention to detail to every client.
