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
I was on a weekend off and travelling home to Soweto by
train from the Boksburg-Benoni Hospital (now known as
the Tambo Memorial Hospital) in Benoni, where I was
training to be a nurse. I had just alighted at Park Station to
get groceries, when – suddenly – someone caught my eye
and greeted me, and said he knew me. I looked at him and
the face looked familiar, but was certain I had never met
him. I was certain about this, because – being a writer – I
am also gifted with a rich photographic memory. When I
meet people, and have conversations with them, I pay
attention to the circumstances, each backdrop and all the
different, minute things; like how they are dressed and the
food that was served, and what the conversation that would
have entailed. I recall all these different details; and I
remember things, situations; and, most of all, I remember
people. The point is, I did not recall ever meeting this man
– who would later become my husband – but, on that fateful
day, I fell for the lie, and gave him my details. It was a
Saturday morning when we met, and he had promised to
come and see me, that same afternoon. Indeed, he came,
but I was concerned about the fact that I did not know him,
yet he said he knew me. He confessed and dismissed this as
a little lie that he had told me so that he could get my contact
details.
The reason his face had looked familiar, as he had explained,
was that he was then on billboards and magazines,
advertising a popular soft drink. Indeed, I had remembered
seeing the billboards and magazine adverts, and the fact that
that is where I might have seen him. But this did not sit well
with me. He could have just asked for my details, and I
would have given these to him. He was tall, well-dressed and
good-looking. Even though it was not love at first sight for
me, I liked him, and would have given him my details. He
did not have to lie.
I had explained this to him and convinced myself that it
might be just this one little lie. Or was it? And, yet, I had
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