A Table in the Corner
A Table in the Corner
Russel Wasserfall Media
S2-10. Mertia - Matt van den Berg
28 minutes Posted Dec 29, 2025 at 11:00 pm.
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Show notes
In this episode of A Table in the Corner, Russel sits down with Matt van den Berg, head chef at Mertia in Stellenbosch and one of the most quietly respected chefs in the Western Cape. Matt reflects on his unconventional path into cooking, from a BCom degree and life on yachts to training at Silwood and working in some of South Africa’s most demanding kitchens, including The Test Kitchen and La Colombe. He speaks candidly about discipline, long hours, kitchen culture, and the pressure of stepp...