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
reached an open space – a soccer field – when I had decided
to talk to them. And, actually, I had also needed to sit down,
otherwise I was going to faint, and fall, from all the ensuing
trauma. I had duly sat on a large stone that formed part of
fencing off the pedestrians from walking onto the soccer
field. But, both my mother and sister had decided to stand.
After I had explained to them that, not only had I lost my
home, I also had lost my second business, my sister had
reacted in a way that I did not expect. “Oh! Eunice, you had
so much and you lost it all; so these things do happen? Who
would have known?”
Then there was complete silence.
After some time, my sister had asked, with apparent
compassion, “How are you going to survive this, Eunice?
You survived the first loss of your business. And, now, the
second one…? How are you going to get through this?
What do you want to do?”
“I want to write,” the words had burst out of my mouth.
“I want to write the pain away.”
“Did you hear that, Mme (mother)?” Monki had asked,
looking at my mother with excitement. “Eunice wants to
write; we are going to have an author in the family.” My
sister had then repeated this, several times, while also
jumping around and hugging my mother. “We are going to
have an author in the family.”
After her excitement had settled and being struck by the
reality of writing a book, she had asked me, solemnly, “How
can I help you? How can I make sure the book happens?
How are you going to go about it? How does it work…?”
“For the next six months, I am just going to be in my room,
and on my bed; just writing, and letting the pen bleed. All I
need from you is to be there for me, emotionally,’’ I had
explained to Monki.
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