Grabbing every opportunity of cooking

Over the past two weeks I’ve been doing something I’ve only ever done occasionally – make the kids’ breakfasts and school lunches. I know this paints (taints?) me as having lived an indulgent life, but I also have a job to do, and it was very convenient to extend the live-in domestic work arrangement that [...]

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Cutlery Tasting?

It is not enough that wine is paired with particular dishes. It is not enough that special glasses have been developed for drinking/tasting specific wines. I have also heard of tastings being done to the accompaniment of different music, which tricks the tasters into experiencing the same wine differently. No, the epicurean world has breached [...]

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Venue for Hire

At our premises we have about 800 square metres that can be configured almost any way you can imagine. The only restriction (sadly) is late-night music. We’re easily accessible from three of the major freeways servicing Cape Town, with secure parking right outside the front door. Think of it as your Room of Necessity (as [...]

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Chicken Katsu, by trial and error

I am usually wary of attempting a recreation of someone’s favourite restaurant meal, especially without the benefit of a proper recipe. But, when the request is being made by my dearest darling daughter, in her birthday week, how can I refuse? So, yesterday afternoon I got stuck into the kitchen, making Chicken Katsu with curry [...]

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A Glass of Red

Anyone who knows me even casually would know that, after about six or seven in the evening, I am certain to be found in the close proximity of a glass of red wine. In fact, during my first pregnancy my gynae allowed me to maintain a moderate consumption, on the basis that the stress caused [...]

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“Nature meets Craftsmanship”

One of our favourite events of the year is the Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards (being held on 20 March), for which we’ve done the catering for several years. In keeping with the performances and people being recognised, the entire event is jam-packed with the most wonderfully stimulating creativity. The excellence of the theatrical component, [...]

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A Tangle with the Gnocchi Beast

I’ve previously mentioned my participation in Liam Tomlin’s cooking course (yes, it is a bit late for the owner of a catering business to learn to cook, but better late than never). The first of his dishes I used at home was Singapore Chicken Rice, which has appeared on the home menu on a regular [...]

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A hat, “larger than life”

For more years than I care to remember, I haven’t needed to worry about my Met outfit. It’s been a chef’s jacket. My only other experiences of attending the Met go back to the early days of our marriage, when we used to run a ‘picnic’ for 100-odd people. That also involved a lot of [...]

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‘Green’ Vegetables

I’ve never been scared of going shopping – not even ‘chore’ type shopping, like groceries and cleaning stuff. My family has learnt, though, that it’s best to arm me with a shopping list (funny that!). You see, I get it into my head that we’re short of something, then for several consecutive weeks I’ll stock [...]

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“Help Wanted. Enquire Within.”

My introduction to the world of ‘hospitality’ came via a variety of waitressing jobs. The first of these was at a steakhouse in Meadowridge, and involved an unlucky diner getting a plate of food on their chest and lap. I tripped as I got to the table, which resulted in one or other of Newton’s [...]

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