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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Eunice Rakhale-Molefe
source of our success. As the business grew, so did my
strengths and creativity. And everything was going well, or
so I had thought...
Going into the restaurant business was one of the highlights
of my career and business moves. It opened doors that I
would never have accessed, and also brought countless
opportunities. I carry a lot of heartening, personal and
business experiences in my spirit from the tables that I
served. And continue to celebrate these special moments,
which remain truly memorable, without end.
The Newspaper ad had read, in part, “African Jazz Café,
Grayston Drive Sandton. Public auction to be held on Monday 4th
December 2006, commencing at 10h00. Entire contents of the wellestablished
and renowned African Jazz & Cuisine restaurant in
prime position. To be sold in its entirety as one lot.”
An auction is like a seal of failure; a public declaration of
one’s incompetence. Ironically, the restaurant was at its
busiest on this day. Guests were not bothered about what
was going on, expected their usual Lamb Shank, Mogodu or
Prawns, which they had expected to be served, pronto! The
private banqueting room made it easier for the auction to
take place, discretely. Words cannot begin to describe the
effects of the loss and how it had impacted my life. For
years, I could not even travel along Grayston Drive, without
some emotional breakdown. The mere sound of the music
we used to play at the restaurant brought so much anguish.
The grief was not so much for the material loss, but rather
what was behind the loss. That is what ate my spirit away
and crushed my soul. Some years, later, in a moment of grief
–quite unexpectedly – my daughter blurts out: “Now we are
going to be known as a stupid family that had a good thing
going and they messed it up; leave me out of it, Mama.” I
cannot even remember what we were talking about when
this had happened. Speechless, I then realised the extent of
the loss and how it had not only affected me, but the rest of
my family, as well. The auction was the dawn of a new era,
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