The Great South African Cookbook – a collection of recipes by SA’s finest – launched in Cape Town

by Libby on Aug 31st, 2016

The Great South African Cookbook was launched at a glittering function in Cape Town recently.

When you the hear the names Reuben Riffel, Ina Paarman, Siba Mtongana, Dorah Sithole, Jan Braai and Abigail Donnelly, your thoughts (and tummies) immediately set off on a deliciously satisfying journey where the food experience (albeit on television or in a book) is so deep, it’s hard to imagine not sharing it with anyone. This is precisely what 67 of the country’s finest cooks, chefs, bakers, gardeners, foragers, farmers and local food heroes did – shared with us the food they love to cook for the people they love.

More about the book

The satiny, metaphorically melt-in-your-mouth cookbook is published by industry-revered Quivertree Publications and features crisp, clean photography that captures the essence of what it means to be a South African. With over 130 recipes decadently spread like ganache on a chocolate cake, there’s almost no need to wade through the ingredients to envision the outcome of each of these dishes. Expect to find tried and classic favourites alongside contemporary fare. It’s about diversity and creativity – and The Great South African Cookbook certainly lives up to this mandate.

As the Master of Ceremonies for the evening, celebrity chef and author of Kitchen Cowboys Pete Goffe-Wood pointed out, this book is more than just a lip-smacking collection of recipes, it is a beacon for social justice and is completely geared towards humanity. Sello Hatang, Chief Executive for The Nelson Mandela Foundation, echoed these sentiments, saying that food is something that we don’t often think of as being a necessary item to free our brothers and sisters out of poverty, but is certainly is, and it is one of the reasons that the foundation has chosen to collaborate day or night on this book to ensure its success. The foundation will receive all royalties from the book sales to cultivate food security and agricultural projects that will improve the lives of those in need, both socially and economically.

Craig Fraser, Justine Drake and Glenda Philp

Although at times difficult to coordinate the busy schedules of these celebrities, everyone was committed and stirred into action by a resolute editorial committee. The result: A scrumptious book that embodies South Africa. From the colourful suburb of Bo Kaap to the strawberry producers of KwaZulu-Natal, the contributors in this book have shared their homes, their stories and their hearts – a testament that food is a personal journey and it’s something that must be done with your whole heart.

So, what will you cook for the people you love?

Tracy Swain (@swain_me) tweeted live from the event:

The launch of – Curated tweets by BooksLIVEevents