No Bake Oreo Cheese Cake by Chef Befrey Musonye Styne, H&S Chef Of The Month
H&S Chef Of The Month
Chef Befrey Musonye Styne
Nationality: Kenyan
Interview With H&S Magazine
Who Is Befrey Musonye Styne?
Commonly referred to as Chef Musonye; I’m a highly motivated and passionate team player, who accepts challenges as opportunities and projects excellence as my mantra. I also have an insatiable quest for knowledge, hence always willing to learn new skills and follow through on new ideas.
Type Of Cuisine?
As a Chef, I specialize in a fusion of both hot kitchen dishes and pastry, offering a unique blend of flavours and techniques from a variety of cuisines. This showcases my versatility and creativity in the kitchen.
What Inspired You To Become A Chef?
Due to my culinary aptitude, I became highly interested in the kitchen from a young age. One memorable moment was when my dad took me for lunch at Safari Park Hotel & Casino. The adrenaline rush I experienced from hearing the sound of the chopping board meeting the knife was incredible. Cooking and baking, for me, are forms of art, providing an outlet for creativity and self-expression. The ability to craft unique dishes, experiment with flavours and techniques, and constantly push boundaries serves as a significant source of inspiration for me.
The dynamic and fast-paced nature of the kitchen environment is particularly attractive to me. The challenge of working under pressure, constant problem-solving, and collaborating with a team motivated me to pursue a career as a chef. Moreover, the thrill of seeing people come together because of food serves as a powerful motivator.
What Is The Biggest Challenge You Have Faced In The Culinary Industry?
One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced is maintaining consistency in the quality of dishes, especially when working with perishable ingredients. Ensuring that every plate leaving the kitchen meets the same high standards can be quite demanding. Factors such as ingredient availability, changing seasons, and variations in produce quality can greatly affect the taste and presentation of a dish.
Consistency also impacts customer satisfaction and builds a chef’s reputation. Achieving consistency requires precise measurements, strict adherence to recipes, and efficient kitchen management. It also entails training and maintaining a skilled and dedicated team that is committed to upholding the set standards.
Another challenge is the continuously evolving trends and ever-changing customer preferences. Chefs often find themselves adapting to new dietary restrictions, seeking innovative techniques, flavours, and catering to diverse cultural palates. Staying ahead of these trends while ensuring consistency can be a delicate balancing act.
What’s Your Biggest Achievement In The Culinary Industry?
My experience in culinary arts has enabled me to achieve significant milestones, inspiring me to establish my own business. This endeavour has propelled me to new heights and positively impacted my career trajectory, while also bringing joy and satisfaction to my customers. Additionally, I have received recognition for my work, being featured in East African Chefs, a food infotainment magazine.
When It comes To Cooking, What Is More Important To You, The Technique, The Ingredients Or The Creativity?
To me, it’s all about achieving a balance between technique, ingredients, and creativity. A skilled chef harmonizes sound techniques to highlight the excellence of high-quality ingredients and draws inspiration from creativity to deliver an exceptional dining experience. It is this equilibrium that can elevate cooking to an art form and create a lasting impression on diners.
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Recipe Of The Week: No Bake Oreo Cheese Cake
The Oreo Cake Base
Ingredients:
• ¼ cup melted butter
• 25 Oreo cookies
The Filling
Ingredients:
• 25 Oreo cookies (5 for garnish)
• ½ cup white chocolate chips
• 250g cheese
• 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
• 1 ¼ cups heavy whipping cream divided
Preparation: The Oreo Cake Base
Combine melted butter, and Oreo cookies (25pcs) in a food processor & blend until all is smooth and starts to stick together. Now remove and press into a 9-inch spring form pan.
Preparation: The Filling
Combine white chocolate chips and ¼ cup of whipping cream. Microwave on high on 20 second intervals, stirring well each time, until melted and smooth, set aside. Next, beat cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth, then add powdered sugar and melted white chocolate and beat until combined. Now, add the remaining 1 cup of heavy cream and beat on low until incorporated, then beat on high speed until thickened and fluffy. Don’t stop until it has thickened. Reserve 5 Oreo cookies for garnish and place remaining 20 into a large zip top bag. Crush with a rolling pin (not too fine chunky) and stir into cheesecake filling.
Plating
Place a slice of Oreo cheesecake on a plate, garnished with chunky Oreo pieces or as you desire!