EP11 - Food, Family and the Business of Belonging - In conversation with Alessandro Khojane
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What does it really take to build a successful restaurant business? For Alessandro Khojane, founder of Gemelli and Pantry, the answer is not just great food, it’s people, relationships, resilience and knowing when to ask for help.
Born in South Africa, raised in Rome, and fluent in Italian, Alessandro’s journey into hospitality was not planned. He began as a waiter in Durban, where he discovered the power of connecting with people and the financial opportunities within the industry. What started as a job became a lifelong passion and eventually the foundation for building some of Johannesburg’s most loved dining experiences.
In this episode of SA Food Stories, Alessandro shares the untold story behind his rise from waiter to restaurateur, the mistakes that nearly destroyed his business, and the lessons that transformed him into a stronger entrepreneur.
Born in South Africa, raised in Rome, and fluent in Italian, Alessandro’s journey into hospitality was not planned. He began as a waiter in Durban, where he discovered the power of connecting with people and the financial opportunities within the industry. What started as a job became a lifelong passion and eventually the foundation for building some of Johannesburg’s most loved dining experiences.
In this episode of SA Food Stories, Alessandro shares the untold story behind his rise from waiter to restaurateur, the mistakes that nearly destroyed his business, and the lessons that transformed him into a stronger entrepreneur.
