How Shae Nair turned adversity into opportunity

This Heritage Month, Carol Ofori sat down with a woman who knows a thing or two about bringing flavour to Durban.

Meet Shae Nair, a primary school teacher by day and the woman behind The Curry Queen.

Shae’s journey into the world of curry began during a difficult time in her family’s life when her husband had to step away from work due to health reasons.

Instead of giving up, Shae decided to turn her love of cooking into an opportunity.

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Starting with spices from her kitchen table and a small stove, Curry Queen was born.

Today, Shae hosts popular curry workshops in Hillcrest, teaching people that making a good curry doesn’t have to be intimidating.

Her biggest tip? Less is more.

Shae says people often get overwhelmed by the number of spices involved, but a good curry starts with the basics: ginger, garlic, whole spices and, most importantly, a good masala.

Her experience as a primary school teacher has also helped shape her workshops.

“I understand that everybody learns differently,” Shae explained, saying she breaks everything down step by step so that people leave feeling confident enough to recreate the dishes themselves.

But perhaps the biggest lesson from Shae’s story has nothing to do with food.

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Her message to women facing difficult circumstances is simple:

Don’t underestimate yourself.

Sometimes you don’t need the perfect opportunity. You just need to take the first step.

And if Shae’s journey from a kitchen table to becoming the Curry Queen is anything to go by, that first step could lead somewhere delicious.

Listen to Carol Ofori’s full conversation with Shae Nair below.