SOUTH AFRICAN CULINARY HERITAGE
The book South African Culinary Heritage by Eunice Rakhale, is about local food history and traditions interlaced with family conversations. It illustrates the culinary diversity of Southern African cuisine and some neighbouring countries, comparing the similarities and unique palatable heritages thereof. Written in a conversational style, the book is a handy culinary compilation which will bestow the reader with explorations regarding local African lifestyles history, art, clothing, music and perhaps even some song and dance. For tourists visiting these African countries – possessing a diversity of ethnic cultures, it is a worthy read regarding heritage and of-course African cuisine. A guide which should be included in any tourist’s travel pack and families. It is about a genuine story told with an extraordinary ability that draws parallel between the author’s struggle in the restaurant industry and in her personal life. Ultimately, her passion for food is where she finds solace to learn, heal and grow. Mother Daughter relationships can be extremely complex and Eunice is no exception. In the book, besides a plethora of authentic recipes and history, she shares candidly about her strained relationship with her daughter Mothei Makhetha. Being estranged for seven years, Mothei writes her mother a letter, in a desperate cry for help, which she hopes will begin the healing process. After receiving the letter, circumstances of her life took Eunice back home to her mother in Moletsane, Soweto. This happens while she is researching her culinary book authenticating the recipes through the help of her mother. This handing down of recipes from her mother gets them connected on a very deep level, thus, creating compassion and trust they never had. In desperation Eunice seeks counselling from her own mother to try and mend the relationship with her daughter. Their journey is one of true and sincere conversations handed down from one generation to another, around family meals and prayerful family meetings.
The book South African Culinary Heritage by Eunice Rakhale, is about local food history and traditions interlaced with family conversations. It illustrates the culinary diversity of Southern African cuisine and some neighbouring countries, comparing the similarities and unique palatable heritages thereof. Written in a conversational style, the book is a handy culinary compilation which will bestow the reader with explorations regarding local African lifestyles history, art, clothing, music and perhaps even some song and dance. For tourists visiting these African countries – possessing a diversity of ethnic cultures, it is a worthy read regarding heritage and of-course African cuisine. A guide which should be included in any tourist’s travel pack and families.
It is about a genuine story told with an extraordinary ability that draws parallel between the author’s struggle in the restaurant industry and in her personal life. Ultimately, her passion for food is where she finds solace to learn, heal and grow.
Mother Daughter relationships can be extremely complex and Eunice is no exception. In the book, besides a plethora of authentic recipes and history, she shares candidly about her strained relationship with her daughter Mothei Makhetha. Being estranged for seven years, Mothei writes her mother a letter, in a desperate cry for help, which she hopes will begin the healing process. After receiving the letter, circumstances of her life took Eunice back home to her mother in Moletsane, Soweto. This happens while she is researching her culinary book authenticating the recipes through the help of her mother. This handing down of recipes from her mother gets them connected on a very deep level, thus, creating compassion and trust they never had. In desperation Eunice seeks counselling from her own mother to try and mend the relationship with her daughter.
Their journey is one of true and sincere conversations handed down from one generation to another, around family meals and prayerful family meetings.
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South African Culinary Heritage
drastically transformed home that she was desiring, and
most longingly so.
Then, in response, I had said, “I get the picture, Mme. The
only thing is that, for me to be able to create this space for
you, we will need to clean up. Will you be willing for me to
do that? Remember how, previously, you and Ntate (Dad)
had stopped Aus’ Monki from cleaning up the house?”
Coolly, my mother had said, reassuringly, “Do not worry,
Eunice; I am past that, now. Just do as I say.”
Touched by my mother’s request, I had then embarked on
the unprecedented home make-over. The “spring-cleaning”
goes without a hitch, and soon my mother’s home is clean,
with lots of light shining through wide open curtains. Oh!
Curtains, we must mention curtains. There is something
about some people and curtains with dark homes. Open the
curtains, and it is woe unto you! Yet, my mother had
rejoiced in the opened curtains and the light that permeated
her home. The dining room and bedroom became my
mother’s favourite spaces. Like a queen, she rested during
the day with the door open, so she could invite her guests
in. In case she did not want to get out of bed, she says to
me, with a smile – like how it was at my sister’s home – my
mother’s dining table was always set, and thus ready to serve
a meal. This was her pride and joy. The kitchen table was
permanently set for my mother’s early morning tea and sour
porridge breakfast, which she cooked for herself, daily, until
her passing – a year later.
To sustain the new changes, with the help of my elder sister,
Monki, we drew up a cleaning programme and a weekly
menu. And the helper went through a two-week orientation
on the new schedule. Clearing clutter had transformed my
mother’s existence in her final years. The courage to let go,
(looking back) I came to realise that, was more of a spiritual
cleansing than a physical one. With the clutter having been
removed, a new space had emerged in my mother’s home
and sincere conversations set off. She was in tune with
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