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a taste of<br />
Lorna Maseko<br />
She loves tapas and lamb chops. Pilates and coffee. And translating food as<br />
entertainment on the telly. Which is where you’ll find the talented Lorna Maseko now<br />
... launching Homegrown Tastes South Africa!<br />
Celebrity chef. Cookbook author. Ballerina. Television<br />
personality. The iconic Lorna Maseko has done it all. We got<br />
the chance to catch up with her ahead of the launch of<br />
Homegrown Tastes South Africa, airing on BBC Lifestyle.<br />
But how did she get here? “I started off as a ballet dancer, the<br />
first dancer of colour to do a lead role with the South African<br />
Ballet Theatre,” she says. “I then became a presenter and I<br />
used to travel around the world and do all the food stories. I<br />
reached the top six on a cooking competition show and I fell<br />
in love with food even more. This led to me hosting a series<br />
of events called Cooking with Lorna and Friends for a couple<br />
of years, after which I got my own show - The Hostess with<br />
Lorna Maseko. After travelling around the world with Chef’s<br />
Manifesto, I am now here ... with BBC Lifestyle.”<br />
The show’s existence is testament to Lorna’s entrepreneurial<br />
attitude. “I actually reached out to BBC and Rapid Blue about<br />
a cooking show, to see if it was possible. And it was!” Lorna<br />
explains. “The show will follow me on a culinary expedition<br />
across South Africa. I’ ll spend each episode sampling various<br />
tastes with local celebrities and meet some of SA’s amazing<br />
chefs and food producers. At the end of each episode, I will<br />
celebrate the hero ingredients of the region by preparing my<br />
own recipe for viewers at home to re-create.”<br />
Lorna is as philanthropic as she is entrepreneurial. Her<br />
work with Chef’s Manifesto is geared towards sustainability,<br />
biodiversity, and being the change the world needs to see<br />
when it comes to food policies. Culinary advocates range<br />
from Michelin star chefs to home cooks from all over the<br />
world. She is also currently working on a project with the<br />
school she attended. “We will start planting a food vegetable<br />
garden for children and in time, enriching the community in<br />
the township of Alexandra, which is where I’m from,” she says.<br />
“We will teach the parents how to make food that is better for<br />
their children.”<br />
But despite all these accolades, Lorna remains humble. “I<br />
am following my passion and trusting God through the<br />
entire process. I like to think I live with a purpose and feel<br />
really blessed to be doing what I love. I love food. I love<br />
the advocacy of food. I love cooking food with people and<br />
watching them enjoy eating my food. I love translating food<br />
as entertainment on television … I feel that is where I thrive<br />
the most.”<br />
Unsurprisingly, it’s tough for Lorna to juggle all of these<br />
commitments. “I wish there were more hours in the day!<br />
I don’t think there’s balance. I think you juggle things at<br />
different speeds. Some days it’s a samba, some days an<br />
adage, and some days it’s a salsa,” she laughs. To unwind in her<br />
downtime, Lorna is a bit of a couch potato (her words!) “I love<br />
being home. If I am not home, I am usually trying out a new<br />
restaurant and new food. Or travelling… I’m so glad we can<br />
travel again!”<br />
So what does Lorna typically cram into a single day? “I get<br />
up, have a coffee – can’t think without one!” she laughs. “I<br />
look at my phone and emails, then I start working on recipe<br />
development, whether I’m working for a brand or just creating<br />
content for myself. Lots of meetings throughout the day ...<br />
running errands ... I am constantly thinking about what is next.<br />
I am also operating on New York time with my team. Oh, and I<br />
also love Pilates!”<br />
We couldn’t resist asking Lorna for some autumn-inspired<br />
dinner party ideas. “I love tapas style eating with people<br />
sharing food. I just made this extremely delicious creamy<br />
coconut and feta cream dip served with broccoli stems,<br />
dressed in a garlic, chilli, and sesame oil dressing. I love<br />
ceviche of any kind. I would have lamb chops done in a<br />
juicy way, noodles with a bit of teriyaki, soy, other interesting<br />
ingredients and maybe a boiled egg. Asian-style short ribs and<br />
bok choy with a zesty dressing alongside avo and capers. And<br />
for dessert, anything with caramel!”<br />
To keep up with Lorna’s pursuits, follow her on Instagram<br />
@lornamaseko or Twitter @Lorns_Maseko or subscribe to her<br />
website (https://lornamaseko.com). “I always put up new blogs<br />
and have a ‘Lorna recommends’ each month.” And, of course,<br />
don’t forget to tune into Homegrown Tastes South Africa on<br />
BBC Lifestyle’s local line-up every Wednesday at 8pm on DStv<br />
channel 174 with 10 episodes, starting from March 23.<br />
10 Get It Magazine <strong>April</strong> <strong>22</strong>