Iam Dutch by birth and South African by choice, with my heart and soul firmly belonging in this country. I arrived here 30 years ago, young and full of dreams. I lived in Jo’burg and Cape Town but made Franschhoek my home 25 years ago.
My culinary evolution took shape at Le Quartier Français during this time. While living and working in this famous and wealthy village, the extremes between my daily privileged culinary world and the reality of people living in poverty just two kilometres down the road was hard to swallow. We strongly believed we could make a difference using our expertise and in 2009 we created Isabelo: Feeding Hungry Minds, a feeding scheme supporting the young children in our community who were going to school hungry, because no child can learn on an empty stomach.
We got our guests involved, who assisted us once a week with baking and delivering a very nutritious muffin we had specially created. The support from our guests was incredible and within six months Isabelo was feeding 70 children a nutritionally balanced meal every school day.
We cooked the meals in the Tasting Room kitchen every morning before we started with the preparations for our evening service. Over the years Isabelo grew rapidly and by 2017 we were feeding 1 300 hungry Franschhoek minds every school day.
We developed nutritious protein-based meals, changing the menu regularly just like we did in the restaurant. There were firm favourites: butternut mash with meatballs; boiled eggs for breakfast; and chicken lasagne, consisting of layers of brown bread, baked with egg custard and filled with chicken, cheese and spinach. All the chefs took part and often the front-of-house staff joined in too.
Denne historien er fra Issue 289-utgaven av Big Issue.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra Issue 289-utgaven av Big Issue.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Visit The ‘Seaside Circus'
There’s a new art activation on the prom …
SA's Food Capture?
While the debate rages on over glyphosate-based herbicides, farmers are spraying the chemical all over the world
Design That Uplifts, Delight Intrigues
A collaboration with Southern Guild at the Silo District in Cape Town showcases designer Rich Mnisi’s first solo exhibition, titled Nyoka, on show from 2 October 2021 through to 4 February 2022. Designed to reach out and inspire.
Why Kaaps Language Dictionary Matters!
The first-ever dictionary of South Africa’s Kaaps language has launched. Why it matters …
Hungry, And Tired
This charity has been feeding Cape Town’s hungry for more than 80 years. Never have so many people queued for food.
Life's Ups And Downs
Feeling burnt out? Clinical Psychologist and Business Director at The Human Edge, Helene Vermaak, gives some grounded self-care advice for anyone feeling overstressed or depleted.
WHAT'S ON?
Get out and about under the spring sun, or enjoy entertainment online from the comfort of your couch …
SPACE TO REFLECT
When former Big Issue editor, Alicia English, lost her husband to Covid-19 earlier this year, she and her son discovered a novel way to process overwhelming, difficult feelings.
INSPIRATIONAL READING
Whether you tap, turn pages or listen to audiobooks, an inspirational read can help you relax and see the world differently.
Rough sleeping
“Winters are the worst nightmare for us,” says a homeless man in Springs. Temperatures dropped to minus 7º C recently.
