Thursday 24 September 2009

Guest chef for the day in Lola’s kitchen!

 

lola.chef

A Cultural Potpourri

As an avid reader and admirer of Lola’s splendiferous Aglio, Olio & Peperoncino blog since its inception, I was absolutely tickled pink to be invited by her to be a guest chef for a day. It is truly an honour, especially since Lola is a culinary magician who transports us – with enormous flair and eloquence – to her Italian ‘headquarters’ in the Eternal City and shares with us the culture, traditions, art, food and vibrant history of that glorious country.

Lola and I have been bloggy friends for a while now and she knows that I also love to cook, so the invitation to be guest chef on her blog is a wonderfully serendipitous opportunity to share a typically South African recipe with you.

Although I’ve lived in many parts of Africa, Cape Town is where I was born and raised so it seems appropriate that I should take you there. Please, come with me to that beautiful city nestled in the curve of its famous mountain and allow me to introduce you to the colourful Bo-Kaap area and to the Cape Malay people who live there.

It would be wonderful if you could join Lola and me over at the Aglio, Olio & Peperoncino kitchen today where I have prepared a Cape Malay feast of fragrant, seductive bobotie with its traditional accompaniments of a delicious, tangy chutney made with dried fruit and gentle spices called blatjang, a divinely aromatic dish of cinnamon infused geelrys and a peppery green salad simply dressed with a squeeze of lemon and a sprinkle of the best olive oil Italy can provide.

Finally, we’ll open a bottle or three of an ambrosial Cape Syrah from the Boekenhoutskloof Estate in Franshoek to add a little extra zing to a meal worthy of a Bo-Kaap princess.

It will be a truly international affair, so why not pop on over to Lola’s Roman kitchen by clicking the chef’s hat and let’s get started. With the lovely, effervescent  Lola as our host, I just know you’re going to enjoy every moment.  See you there…and lekker eet!

19 comments:

Maithri said...

TESSA!!! I have an idea.... I've been trying to write you...but the postmaster keeps sending my mail back... Thank you for this piece of delicious inspiration....

Love, M

Anonymous said...

I have such mixed feelings about South Africa. So many of my friends and people I went to school and college with lived there and loved the people and the landscape and the birds.....and hated the politics.
Isn't that true of almost everywhere?
Anyway, I loved my virtual visit.

Polly said...

Sounds yummy, especially if accompanied by a glass of syrah which makes every dish taste better. I love that photo, I had no idea Cape Town is so gorgeous.

I've noticed you're reading A Sunday at a Pool in Kigali, I've read this book a few years ago and foud it really disturbing. It's heartwrenching. Incidentally, I'm just finishing We Wish To Inform You... which you have recommended to me a while ago. It's very good. Very different to A Sunday.

Val said...

oh i love bobotie - thank you xx

Unknown said...

Hey, ek se, lekker kos daar by die Bo-Kaap! Off to Lola's now! x

Rosaria Williams said...

I popped over there and copied the recipe. I'm trying it as soon as I can purchase some of the ingredients I don't stock. It sounds yummy.

Anonymous said...

Here from Lola,s :)!

steven said...

tessa i can't stop looking at that picture - i didn't know that capetown looks like that. it's so beautiful. have apeaceful evening. steven

Nihal said...

Oh what an exciting potpourri that is! Even gives a better feeling than a flowers potpourri:)
Lola, yes yes she's a sweet-heart! I always pop on over to her ancient roman kitchen and read deli-deli-cious adventures she had:)

As for Capetown, in my looong wish-list. One day soon I wanna visit those landscapes I ever liked.

Smiling Hello from Istanbul~

Carol said...

I love cooking too but have never heard of these dishes!! I shall pop over to Lola's now :-)

C x

Sujatha Bagal said...

Thanks Tessa for the substitution tip for beef. Since lamb is not my thing either (I knew that was going to be your answer!) I will try ground chicken. I have a feeling my son (9 year-old) will be very grateful to you!

Cheers!

Delwyn said...

Hi tessa

I am going to try your delicious recipe tonight...thank you

Happy days

sallymandy said...

Lovely, Tessa! Thank you for the mini travelogue and food notes; this is the kind of reading that hits us right in the tummy, mind, and heart. I'm on my way right over to AOP to see your recipes. As Lola says, Ciao!

Megan Raines said...

What a spectacular picture! Your blog looks fascinating. I will enjoy reading more often!

Nomad said...

This is one of the most beautiful places I have seen in my life!!! Makes LA look like even more of a dump...

Rémy, The Quill said...

I am in Cape Town at the moment and I must admit that the picture you took is amazing. I run a photography blog and I have some pictures of Cape Town...but this one is just....sigh!

remythequill.blogspot.com

Carol said...

Your recipe looks stunning and I shall definitely be giving it a go!!

C x

Lori ann said...

I am late. Drat! are there any leftovers?, I am not choosy, between you and Lola it has got to be a culinary masterpiece. And, i LOVE Cape Town.

Eleonora Baldwin said...

TESSA!!!!! Congratulations on Blog of Note!!! I am so excited and happy.

Big hugs and kisses
Lola xx