That’s me to the left, cooking some tasty Chakalaka!
As a kid, growing up on a farm in the Chimanimani area of Zimbabwe in Africa, I felt very fortunate when I got a treat!
Zimbabwe, or Rhodesia, as it was called when I was born (I’m showing my age here!) was a British Colony. So, a lot of our traditions came from England. Afternoon tea was always a big deal. Anock, our cook, who was from Malawi, would make us delicious cakes, scones, and my favorite, rusks (seen in the photo below). Click here to download an excerpt from our recipe book, A Taste of Africa, featuring my favorite rusk recipe.
Of course, good-old Zimbabwean Tanganda tea was served. Even from a very young age, us kids have loved our hot tea.
I was boarded at school and would go to school for about three months, coming home for long weekends three times during those three months. One of my favorite treats when my mum collected us on a Friday was to head to the local supermarket and buy ourselves a chocolate. My most favorite was a milk chocolate that was shaped into a frog and called a Freddo.
Although I love sweets, every now and then, what really makes me happy is salty treats. We would make our own biltong on the farm. Biltong is similar to jerky, only better! It’s made by marinating steak in malt vinegar, salt, and coriander and then letting it air dry. If you’re thinking of taking a trip to Africa, you must try biltong—you’ll love it! Biltong is often served during sundowners on African safari tours. Make sure to have it with a gin and tonic! Note that you’ll definitely want to take some biltong home with you but DON’T! Unfortunately, it is illegal to bring biltong back to the United States.
One of my favorite meals from Africa is sosaties cooked on the grill. I love lamb sosaties paired with onions and apricot—it’s a healthy and delicious dish and great as appetizers! The meat is marinated in a chutney and curry sauce, and the longer you marinate it the tastier it gets. Click here to see a recipe for sosaties.
So, next time you’re dreaming about your bucket list, I encourage you to move Africa to the top! South Africa has several restaurants featured in the Top 100 Restaurants in the World lists. And Victoria Falls Hotel was just recognized for its Livingstone Room Restaurant. The food is top notch and the service is exceptional.
Enjoy some authentic African recipes from our recipe book, A Taste of Africa! Click the button below to download an excerpt from the book, or click here to purchase a copy.
