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.

He opens up about the reality behind owning a restaurant — from dealing with the “tax man”, financial struggles and depression, to learning that running a great restaurant and running a successful business are two very different things.

At the heart of Alessandro’s story is his belief that people are the real currency of business. From employees to customers, mentors and lifelong relationships, he explains how the people around him helped shape his journey.

He also shares the deeply personal story of adopting his daughter and how family, whether born into or chosen, became the foundation of his life philosophy.

Looking toward the future, Alessandro discusses the challenges facing South Africa’s hospitality industry and his vision for creating better training opportunities for young people entering the restaurant world.

A story about food, failure, family and finding success the hard way.