"Remember that super cold weekend? Well I was sipping gluhwein and eating the most delicious gammon with crispy homemade bread rolls that had thick lashings of butter and homemade mayonnaise.
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My intention is for you, the reader, to love and appreciate my books. They are filled with passed-down, family secrets that I’m revealing because I believe in sharing knowledge.
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Trizanne Kodi's mom has worked in a professional kitchen, so this adds to her understanding of the industry and sets her in a good position for what is to come. “Ever since I was a little girl I've stood, side by side, with my mum in the kitchen,” Trizanne says. “Before coming to chef school, she taught me all I know about food. I’m sharing her celery soup recipe, passed down to me and, whenever we've had guests, we have served it. I hope, with winter coming up, this recipe will be made, shared and enjoyed by your family and friends.” This dish intrigued me because, of all available vegetables, fresh celery is one I really don’t enjoy. Trizanne’s soup, however, is the best version of celery I have ever tasted. I suggest you try it.
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Brynn shares his delicious venison burger patties wrapped in bacon. “This recipe is nothing fancy, however, if cooked over an open fire the smoke enhances the flavours and leaves you wanting more,” he says. “For me this sitting-around-a-blazing-fire-and-exchanging-stories style of eating is about transporting family and friends into the wilderness. The whole experience is one that my family and I have enjoyed repeatedly. I urge you to get out there, become one with nature and all it offers. The great outdoors inspires me and foraging for flavours motivates me. Since I can remember I have known what I can and can’t eat in nature - simply by observing the animals and their behaviour. Perhaps this is the reason I have huge respect for the animals I hunt and utilise every part, possible.”
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Andiswa works well, developing recipes on the Elba cookers here at the school. She chooses to share her Chakalaka recipe. It’s one of her favourite dishes because “it’s simple yet delicious”. She started making it at a very young age and, over the years, experimentation with flavours has changed her original recipe. Sometimes it was too spicy, other times too hot. She knew she needed balance - mixed spice and coconut delivered a spicy sweetness. “A function at home is not complete without a chakalaka dish. The ingredients vary from person to person, so does the spiciness. It’s, therefore, a dish you can easily make your own,” Andiswa says.
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This scrumptious carrot cake recipe is an old, family recipe that we traditionally make during Easter. It is definitely a favourite, and one of the first dishes my mom taught me to make. My gran taught my mom to make it and I’m sure you will agree that it’s one of the easiest and most delicious cakes.
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Beef Wellington is my all-time favourite. I taught myself how to make it back in high school, and since then it's been a repeated success with family and friends - like come on, who wouldn't enjoy a good piece of fillet? This dish may look incredibly difficult but, fear not, the recipe I have makes it a breeze. The puff pastry can be made from scratch or, for the worker-bees, bought puff pastry is totally acceptable. I’m confident this will make it to your all-time-favourite list, too.
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Jonathan Kapp is sharing a recipe for a Wayfarer whole trout. In the students’ first week we visited many of our suppliers including Wayfarer Trout. Clearly, the beauty of this farm captured Jonathan and stimulated a desire to make this dish.
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Connor Benn, of Kloof in KwaZulu-Natal, was the first male to join the school. His friendly smile and enthusiasm for food are enchanting. Connor’s gran’s potato salad, taught to him when he was eight years old, is his firm favourite. It takes him back to family Sunday braais. His dad was responsible for cooking the lamb chops, his mother made the “most delicious” garlic bread and he provided the salad. “It was always a winner,” he admits, as he displays that captivating grin.
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Rebecca Bourhill, of Rustenburg in North West Province, would spend her holidays working with me - like every holiday from the age of 16. Her life is food and her enthusiasm is very evident. A close-knit family, Granny Iris would make this dish to celebrate her son’s visits from the army, and it became a family favourite. “Bobotie is a typical Cape Malay dish with an egg custard topping. "My gran would make it using mutton mince and later changed to half mutton and half beef because of the expense factor. I now use pure beef and find that a fattier mince works best for the flavour that one gets,” she explains.
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