3 Local Foodies Share their Fondest Food Memories Growing Up in South Africa
Food is a thread so intricately linked to every area and every stage of our lives. From dinners shared with mom and dad on school nights to the meals shared with sons and daughters of our own. Every meal is a moment, but the memories of some linger long after the dishes are done. And so, this Heritage Month, we sat down with three local food lovers and bloggers to hear about their fondest food memories growing up in South Africa — and how food has helped shape their past and present.
Sam Linsell (@drizzleanddip)
Image source: www.drizzleanddip.com
As the talent behind one of South Africa’s top food blogs, Sam Linsell is a seasoned food writer, stylist, and photographer. Currently in Cape Town living out her passion for food creativity, Sam’s early childhood years were spent in Gauteng. A time and place where many of her strongest food memories were made.
“My family is, and was, very interested in cooking and baking,” she says, looking back on a few stand-out moments. Including picking ripe granadillas off the vine next to the swimming pool in her grandparent’s garden and enjoying her grandmother’s homemade crunchies — the recipe for which is at the top of Google and has been for many years.
“I took my favourite childhood recipe from my grandmother and shared it on my blog and it is one of my biggest recipes. The first recipe I ever published on my website was for a quick apricot jam, inspired by the jam this same grandmother made and which I loved.”
Looking back, Sam concedes that scratch baking and cooking likely played a big part in shaping her career as a food writer. “My recipes are inspired by ingredients I love and those that I find in abundance in my kitchen. I eat with the seasons and relish the change as food comes and goes.”
Lorraine Maharaj (@tamarindnthyme)
Image source: www.tamarindnthyme.com
Lorraine Maharaj is a food blogger from Johannesburg, born and raised in a South Indian home in Durban where food and family were synonymous with one another.
“My love for food started at a young age,” she says. “My mum was very easygoing and allowed me to experiment in the kitchen, even if I failed. She didn’t mind if I made a mess and even allowed me to have a dinner party for my friends in our humble home when I just started high school. I fondly remember making a roast chicken and shepherd’s pie for the first time and my friends were so impressed.”
Now with a home full of boys to feed, Lorraine reflects on memories of her mum cooking for the family. “Nobody ever left our home without eating… It [food] always brought people together and if your food tasted good you must know it was cooked with love.”
As for Lorraine’s absolute favourite dish of all time? That would be her mum’s Mutton Curry. “I waited for the weekend so we could eat a freshly cooked curry for lunch with our favorite carrot salad soaked with vinegar.”
Sara Essop (@southafricahalaal)
Image source: www.facebook.com
With roots in South Africa, Sarah Essop is a freelance writer, food and travel blogger who has travelled to 47 different countries! An auditor in her past life, Sara now lives out her dream as a travelling foodie. Her Instagram account, @southafricahalaal, has quickly become our go-to resource for delicious and Halaal-friendly foods.
“Although I grew up mainly in Johannesburg, I’ve been travelling from the time I was a little girl so it’s natural that some of my happiest food memories would be linked to travel too,” she explains.
“I have fond memories of sitting cross-legged on a floor in a rural village in India with my family and sharing an open-fire cooked rice platter, strolling down canals in Venice with a gelato in hand, sampling street food in Phuket, and dunking churros in Madrid, inter alia.”
Sara has happy memories of huge family get-togethers and Eid celebrations back home too.
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What is your fondest food memory? We’d love to hear all about it! Please feel welcome to share with us via any of our social media pages on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. And be sure to stay posted to our pages throughout September as we share a series of delicious, heritage-inspired recipes straight from Sam, Lorraine, and Sara!