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
stop germs from spreading is to wash your hands regularly
with soap and water. If your hands look dirty, you need to
wash them to remove the dirt and germs. Wash your hands
with soap and water. Do not just run your hands under
running water. After washing your hands, rinse off the tap
before you close the tap. You should be mindful of what
you touch with your hands, at all times. Keep your finger
nails short and clean.
Hands are primary traditional tools of the trade. On the
other hand, the first kitchen tool to appear on the table was
a knife, to cut and spear off the meat, and that was in the
17th century. It is interesting to note that, before then, all
nations ate with their hands. It was not until the 19th
century that the four-pronged fork was introduced, to join
the spoon and knife. The advantage of not using cutlery was
that people felt more obliged to wash their hands, both
before and after eating. This was a norm, worldwide. Hand
washing is a ritual that – to Africans and other nationalities
– Is like culture. Culture makes sense when you know that
it is not just a ritual, but also a hygienic precaution. In a pure
traditional setting, one eats with one’s right hand from the
plate, never the left hand, unless one is eating something
that requires the use of both hands. If there is one
communal dish, platter or pot offered, one eats only from
that part of the communal dish, platter or pot that is directly
in front of you. A good host will ensure that the communal
platters are circulated timeously and adequately. Smoking
does not take place in the same area as where the food is
being served; and a polite guest will wait to smoke until after
the meal is finished. Typically, the guests stay around for a
while longer after the meal, to allow some time for aftermeal
conversations.
Africa Day, commemorated on May 25, annually. The
day celebrates our continent, Africa, through music, food
and cultural exchange. Presently, though, the day is not
celebrated in a way that is worthy of what it deserves, and it
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