• Chefs Garth Stroebel (right) and Paul Hartmann (left) give us a taste of life in the kitchen at the South African Chefs Academy in Cape Town. RICHARD HOLMES A blur of white rushes past as I step into the airy rooftop lobby of the South African Chefs Academy in Cape Town. Aprons and knife rolls clatter by as a steady stream of instructions echoes out from the academy’s gorgeous training kitchen that’s all gleaming steel and Table Mountain views.Perhaps like zebra avoiding danger in their dazzle, the young chefs training under two of South Africa’s culinary greats seem to travel…

    Simple tips with phyllo pastry… by Anna Montali Phyllo pastry Phyllo pastry is tissue-thin sheets of dough used predominantly in Greek and Middle Eastern pastries and pies. It…

    The cheat’s way to portion off desserts and make them travel friendly. The zesty lemon and sweet cream cheese icing are balanced by light Madeira cake, making these layered…

    Executive chef Malika van Reenen and her team at the Cape Grace Boutique Hotel add a personal touch to the dining experience. By Zaza Motha “I remember my grandmother cooking Jungle Oats and the smell of cinnamon when I was aboutfive years old,” beams Malika van Reenen as she thinks back to when she fell in love with cooking. “I always wanted to use cherries and angelica as garnishes back then, the way my grandmother did when baking for weddings.” Once she completed school, Malika was interested in baking, especially pastry, but did not enjoy the precise measurements required for…

    Choux pastry with a differenceChicken mayonnaise with choux pastry Spoon 250ml (1 cup) good-quality mayonnaise into a bowl and stir in 1 chopped smoked chicken breast, 2 finely…

    Discover a secluded and untamed island in the SeychellesZAZA MOTHA Shades of blue Indian Ocean cradle the Desroches Island in the Seychelles. The velvety white sands meet the crystal blue waters while the greens from the coconut palms wave as you fly into this island. Paradise indeed. Desroches is one of 115 islands situated in the archipelago and measures just 6km in length and 1,5km in width, allowing you to discover the entire island by bicycle, the encouraged mode of transportation on the flat land mass. Accommodation options include beach suites suitable for couples and beach villas for larger groups,…