Lasizwe trades awkward chats for the kitchen

South African YouTuber and digital entertainer Lasizwe Dambuza is taking on a new challenge as a contestant on Celebrity Come Dine With Me South Africa. The content creator, who is widely known for his online series Awkward Dates, is moving away from his usual interviewing role to host fellow celebrities and showcase his cooking skills.

The television show gives Lasizwe an opportunity to welcome other contestants into his home, prepare meals and entertain his guests. Unlike his usual online productions, where he has control over the content and how it is presented, this time his fellow contestants will judge his hosting and cooking abilities.

Speaking about the experience, Lasizwe admitted that cooking was not one of his strongest skills. He explained that although he was good at following recipes, he was even better at asking people for help. He jokingly described himself as a kitchen supervisor with excellent delegation skills because he often ends up watching other people cook after asking them to assist him.

One of the funniest moments he shared from filming involved his brother. According to Lasizwe, they nearly burnt the meat while preparing food on the braai because they were busy arguing with each other. He recalled that the meat was almost burning while his brother was more interested in fighting with him than concentrating on the cooking.

Lasizwe also explained that participating in the show required him to give up some of the control he normally enjoys when creating his own content. He said the biggest challenge was not being completely in control of how people experienced him. The experience forced him to be present rather than constantly thinking like a content creator.

He further explained that he wanted people to experience different sides of his personality beyond Awkward Dates. He also wanted his dinner party to reflect South African culture through the food and its presentation.

For Lasizwe, the show provides an opportunity to connect with other personalities outside their usual public image. He noted that sharing meals and conversations could reveal different sides of people that audiences might not normally see online.

His appearance on the programme is another step in his efforts to explore opportunities in television and entertainment while continuing to grow his career as a digital content creator.