Having initially studied Medical Technology at Wits Technikon in Johannesburg, Dutch born- Arnold Tanzer, began his culinary career in 1989 in the Netherlands; working at various hotels and restaurants in Holland, including the two star Michelin Hotel Corona.
He worked aboard various Holland America cruise liners and before becoming personal chef to one of Hollywood's most powerful icons, Michael Douglas. He later joined Londolozi Game Reserve, amongst the most exclusive private Game lodges in the world, as executive chef; later becoming group executive of the Conservation Corporation, looking after 22 properties in Africa, Tanzania, Botswana, Kenya and South Africa.
In 2001, Arnold opened The Delicatessen, an upmarket food store and restaurant, and now owns Food on the Move, a Joburg based Consultancy and Culinary Production company focusing on delivering world class culinary services and solutions across Africa and the Middle East.
Arnold is a past Vice President of the South African Chefs and additionally, held the elected position of World Chefs Continental Director for Africa and the Middle East for 8 years.
Arnold has represented South Africa internationally at the 2005 Bocuse D’Or in Lyon, was a finalist in the Amstel Salute to success and is the Sunday Time’s Chef of the Year 2008.
He was honoured with the World Chefs Lifetime Membership in 2014 and was a founding member of the Slow Food Chefs Alliance in South Africa. Currently, voluntarily serves as Chairman of the Board of Chefs with Compassion – a registered charity that rescues surplus food and transforms the produce into nutritious meals for the vulnerable during the COVID pandemic.
1,5million meals have been distributed from an estimated 430 tons of rescued produce since April 2020.
