Our editor, Chad, is obsessed with olive oil and potjie this month. Read on to find out why.

Here are a few of my favourite things to eat, try out and follow this month!  

Gone are the days of shopping the same oil for your pantry each month. With the great selection of locally produced olive oils we’re spoilt with in South Africa, I take my time finding ones I can treasure…. those that are delicious and nutritious. When I find one I like, I treat it like absolute gold.  

Stop and taste the olive oil

Since South Africa produces many of the world’s best-tasting extra virgin olive oils, it makes sense to stop and savour its aroma and flavour. Yes, olive oil tastings are a thing! Many Western Cape olive farms offer tastings where you can expect to sample extra virgin olive oils of various styles (smooth and nutty or bitter and peppery?) plus olive tapenades, jams and spreads.  

First, you’ll be poured a bit of oil in a small glass. Cup the glass to warm the oil and swirl it. Give it a sniff and pick out scents – is it fruity or grassy? Next, take a sip, note the flavours and swallow. Is it pungent, peppery or smooth as it goes down? Not only is it loads of fun and delicious to do, but you’ll be better prepared to pick the best product next time you’re faced with an aisle of oils.   

From dressings to marinades, salsas to pestos, a quality olive oil is a pantry investment 

And the world’s top olive oil tasters think this SA oil is the best out. De Rustica Estate’s Coratina Extra Virgin Olive Oil was named the Best Single Cultivar Oil from South Africa – and in the world – at the latest EVOOLEUM Awards in Spain.  

It came out tops after a panel of 26 judges from 10 countries judged over 1 000 samples of olive oil from around the world. So the fact that South Africa come out on top is quite exceptional! Nonetheless, the estate says it is a major achievement not just for De Rustica, but for the South African olive oil industry, too. Humble, and delicious!  

Hot pot

If you haven’t invested in a cast iron potjie pot already, then now is as good a time as any! Need more convincing? Then check out the flavour-packed recipes in The Art of Potjie. Plus, you’ll be thrilled how handy they can be when loadshedding strikes – as well as that age-old winter craving for something hearty on a chilly night!   

The trick with cast iron is that you need to take very good care of it. If you’re using a brand-new pot, take care to “seal” it first: wash it out with a mixture of dishwashing liquid and soap and then rinse.  

Then, coat the inside of the pot with cooking oil and heat until smoking. Wipe the inside clean with kitchen paper and you’re good to go! This helps to protect it against rusting over time.   

Did you know that these pots are categorised by numbers, according to the amount of people it can serve? Here’s a quick guide to cut out and keep:  

Pot Size 1 – Serves 2 
Pot Size 2 – Serves 3-4 
Pot Size 3 – Serves 4-6 
Pot Size 4 – Serves 6-8 
Pot Size 6 – Serves 10 and more  

Photographs: Getty, Shutterstock, Supplied

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How dull would life be if only one tile fits all? If every home looked the same, our spaces would lose their individuality and their personality. But when it comes to decorating your kitchen and dining areas, Italtile promises one of South Africa’s widest range of luxury imported and local porcelain tiles for walls and floors, indoor and outdoor. From a wood aesthetic to stone and screed, here are some of our favourites, and there’s sure to be tile collection perfect for you.

INTO THE WOODS

Wood is forever on-trend and will never go out of fashion. Plus, it’s the perfect way to bring a sense of nature into the home. We love its natural glow and the uneven pattern in its grains just gets more beautiful over time. Real wood flooring is expensive and difficult to upkeep, as well as being unsustainable to the environment. Wood-look tiles offer a sustainable option that looks amazing and is easy to clean and maintain. Italtile has partnered with international and local tile masters to bring their customers a breath-taking array of options in varying lengths, textures, treatments and colours.

1. Moda Vinile

If you’re after beauty on a budget, your best choice is Italtile’s brand-new wood-look vinyl planks. This range consists of a stone/plastic composite board base with a surface finish that mimics a wooden texture. It comes in five colours and is resistant to stains, moisture, heat, scratches, termite action and full name, making it perfect for your dining room. With careful installation and maintenance, your slender vinyl timbers will give you up to 25 beautiful years.

2. ColorArt by Ceramica Sant’Agostino

Reclaimed, upcycled and repurposed wood items have been trending for some time now, and Italian tile masters Sant’Agostino have used incredible digital technology to create a porcelain tiles range that perfectly embraces this richly-textured and personality-packed style. Their tiles are complete with burnt, worn and painted expressions, making it a highly individualistic choice that is magnificent on both walls and floors for an eclectic space. They will be perfect for your outdoor patio area for rustic al fresco dining or on the walls of your kitchen for a wood cabin feel.

THE STONE AGE

Italtile have sourced tiles that capture the ancient and timeless look that only raw stone can bring, everything from tiles that mimic the rock that clads the slopes of the Italian alps, to fascinating slates and honeyed stone that will make anyone look twice.

3. Klif by Atlas Concorde

This magnificent range reimagines the striated beola stone from Val D’Ossola in the Italian Alps. It carries an innate expressive strength and a timeless elegance making it perfect for a stylish minimalist kitchen or outdoor eating area. They have an unbeatable finish that handles high traffic with ease.

4. Millenia
Sandstone is a South African natural wonder, and a massive chunk of it sits in Cape Town’s Table Mountain! Millenia works that gorgeous honeyed magic into a raw earthy tile with unique patterning that will really come to life in your outdoor eating space or braai area, all with the added benefit of a slip-resistant finish.

THE NEED FOR SCREED

Cement following became common during the Industrial Revolution, where factory wooden floors and ceiling beans were a major fire hazard. This practicality developed into a trend that also encompasses exposed metal and brick.

5. Tough Torre

This locally-manufactured screed-look porcelain range offers an authentic mottling of colour and a matt finish for interior floors and walls, making it the perfect choice for an industrial-style kitchen. It is also available with a slip-resistant finish, making it great for outdoor areas.

6. Spazio
These local-made newcomers were an instant hit when they landed on the shelves at Italtile. They’re available in three colours, and have been created with eight faces and a shade variance of 3V. This means that you are guaranteed a very authentically varied set of tiles where the design and amount of colour will differ from one tile to the next, perfect for bringing an artistic space together.

7. Terrazzo razzle dazzle with NewDeco
This tile is more a celebration of Venetian life than a mere floor or wall covering. This new and exciting tile offers trend-getters an authentic and lively interpretation of terrazzo. Traditionally created for northern Italian nobility, terrazzo was the aggregation of a cement substrate and chips of granite, marble, and sometimes even mother of pearl. They were then polished smooth to create a dazzling surface that sparkled in the sun. You’ll have seen this look expressed on tables, coffee mugs, stationery and even bed linen. It is one kitchen design trend we can’t wait to see even more of as it moves from something fashionable to a well-established look.

For the full Itatile range, visit italtile.co.za

Words: Roxy Greeff
Photography: Courtesy images

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In 2005, Pacific West became the first seafood brand in South East Asia to be awarded the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)’s Chain of custody certification – a globally recognised, rigorous sustainable certification for wild-capture fisheries. Since then, MSC-certified products have been introduced to food-service and retail markets globally.

And it’s no surprise. Over the years, Pacific West has been implementing strict programs in quality control for all of its products. This is in line with its long-held tradition of producing fresh, untainted, premium quality seafood at all times. You will find that all of their operations are in full compliance with HACCP, IFS, BRC, MSC, Yum! and Halaal standards and requirements, while the health standards are in accordance with international EU and AQIS standards.

Besides this, and to play a part in reducing environmental impact, they have started to formalize the usage of sustainable palm oil in product processing, making Pacific West an RSPO-certified company since November 2014. The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) is a global, multi-stakeholder initiative on sustainable palm oil. It seeks to promote the growth and use of sustainable palm oil in the palm value chain.

By purchasing Pacific West products, retailers, food-service operators and end consumers are playing a vital role in promoting the health of the world’s fish stocks and, at the same time, supporting a cleaner, eco-friendlier and healthier future for our generations.

Find out more at pacificwestfoods.com.

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Ever since we can remember, the kitchen has been not only a place to prepare food, but a place of congregation, care-taking and connection. It is the warmly-beating heart of every home and it’s a space worth investing in. But when the time comes for kitchen renovation, many of us compromise on quality because the luxury products and finishes of our kitchen dreams are way out of our league. Right now, though, Italtile is celebrating their Fabulous Fifty Birthday Promo in honour of half a century of style. You can find all the kitchen fabulosity you’ll ever need in-store or line, from trendy to classic luxury, all with affordable price tags.

Let us whet your appetite with some of our favourites.

Front and centre there’s the Italian sinkspiration, Franke, Combining style and innovative functionality to simplify your life when it comes to kitchen prep and washing up. Hop onto the matt black trend with the breathtaking luxe Franke Maris Onyx Black Double Sink.

Next, check out these Smeg beauties, everybody’s wicked little kitchen fantasy. The Smeg Mira Double Bowl Topmount Sink with Mira Black Glass Cover Set is exclusive to Italtile.

And while you’re at it, why not treat yourself to a sink mixer as well? Check out the slim-yet-curvy Bolsena Black Sink Mixer, or turn heads with the ultra-modern Ravenna Chrome Pillar Sink Mixer from Tivoli. You can also channel your inner master chef with Tivoli Pella Chrome Sink Mixer, or opt for Italtile’s best-selling Nobili Sofi Chrome Pillar Sink Mixer with a Pull Out Spray for deceptively simple lines from Tivoli.

And nothing spruces up a kitchen space quite like a stunning new splashback, and Italtile’s kaleidoscope of mosaics are just what you need to give your space the lift it needs. Promo prices on their mosaic selection are up to 50% off, and options include all the best of current trends and tried-and-tested classics. Pretty patchwork pieces, classic mini subways, quirky hexagons, eco glass, natural stone, metallics, mother-of-pearl, you name it, they’ve got it!

Italtile’s large format tiles present sensational slabs that’ll have you living for less with your kitchen floor. They have every look covered, from and cement and screed, to stone and marble. With Bayonna’s mightly marbles, you can get over two metres of imported magnificence at never-to-be-repeated prices.

If your kitchen dreams are all about those Provençal French farmhouse vibes, look no further than local-is-lekker Lushwood. Their raw, textured, gently worn wood is all expertly remastered right here in SA and is available in Nordic blonde Ash and honey-toned Taupe. 

Stocks are limited.

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December can be pretty crazy, and figuring out what to cook for all the guests at your house on Christmas Day is one of the most stressful parts. I love to cook, so while I don’t want to prep something that will have me flustering around all day, I also don’t want to buy everything ready-made. That’s where the UCOOK Christmas meal delivery box comes in.

By Roxy Greeff

The increasingly popular meal delivery service has teamed up with world-renowned chef Franck Dangereux and Yuppiechef to bring you something has never been seen before in South Africa: A Christmas meal delivery box. The box will arrive on your doorstep a few days before 25th December and you’ll find it filled with a pack of recipe cards and all the ingredients needed to whip up a feast that can cater for up to 16 guests.

This means, first of all, that you won’t be standing in those long queues of last-minute December shoppers at your grocery store. I’ve spent multiple years running around from store to store because they are sold out of glace cherries everywhere, and the only gammons and ducks left couldn’t feed a table of four, nevermind my massive family; so skipping queues is the biggest winner in my book. Secondly, you know you’ll have everything you need.

You may know Franck as the previous head chef at La Colombe, and he now owns the well-known FoodBarn in Noordhoek. Drawing inspiration from his French heritage, his Christmas menu includes a smoked salmon rosti starter, up to five sides (including the best ever roast pots) and your choice of duck, fillet, chicken or pork belly. Each recipe is completed with his personal touch and detailed nuances, from the foraged pine needles in the pork belly to the pink peppercorns native to SA.

I chose the duck option so keep reading to see what I got up to while cooking, and to take a sneak peek at what you can expect to find in your very own box. There’s also information on how to get your order in.

STARTERS

Smoked salmon potato cakes with herbed créme and pink peppercorns

This was the first time that I had made potato cakes and I couldn’t believe how easy it was. The local pink peppercorns lightly crushed in a mortar and pestle also add a deliciously unique touch.

MAINS

Ratatouille provençal

This is a hearty, tomatoey dish loaded with goodness and a main option that your vegetarian guests won’t be able to get enough of. I particularly loved cooking all in veggies and caramelising them separately for an intense boldness in flavour, and a sweetness to offset the acidity from the tomatoes. Serve it up with a nice big bowl of herbed rice.

TIP: I ate the leftovers piping hot on buttered toast the next day and it was amazing.

Roasted duck with orange (Canard roti à l’orange)

When you watch cooking competitions on TV, they always make a big fuss about how difficult it is to cook a duck perfectly. It wasn’t. Follow the instructions to the letter, and you’ll have a tasty bird on the table in under two hours.

SIDES

Chickpea and lentil salad with mint and parsley

My family actually reached for seconds of this side. Whip it up in under 10 minutes and top it off with the most amazing cumin dressing (I’m obsessed). This is another great option for lunch the next day.

La grande salade verte (The big green salad)

Three ingredients, a dressing and you’re done. Quite a few people told me this is the best salad they’ve ever tasted. Plus, you’ll get to learn to make home-made croutons!

Asparagus with almond butter and Parmesan (Asperges verte au beurre d’amande)

Another one that comes together in minutes. Make sure you keep a close eye on that asparagus as it can go soggy very quickly (and no one wants that). I ran mine through cold water immediately after blanching to prevent further cooking.

The best roasties ever

It wasn’t in the instructions, but I used the leftover fat from the duck (what I didn’t use in my gravy) and I cooked them in the same pan I used for the duck. Because what’s better than potatoes roasted in duck fat, right?

Are you sold yet?

To order your own box, all you have to do is head over to UCOOK.co.za, select how many you are cooking for and choose your protein/s. Your box will be delivered to your doorstep on 22nd December and you’ll be good to go! And if you buy selected Christmas gifts and feasting necessities from Yuppiechef, you’ll get 30% off your UCOOK Christmas box. Enjoy!

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With our lives constantly getting busier and busier, cooking wholesome and healthy meals every day can become tiring, or there is just no time. Servd Fresh is all about taking the planning, shopping, prepping and cooking out of your daily routine by delivering meals of the freshest quality right to your doorstep. Their food is healthy, balanced, delicious and comes in fully biodegradable packaging! They helped us put together 5 ways to eat your way to a summer body and how they can help, should you need a hand.

By Roxy Greeff

1. FRONT-LOAD YOUR CALORIES

According to the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, you should be eating the majority of your calories before 3 PM. So save the carbs for brekkie and lunch, don’t eat lunch too late, and keep your dinner light and fresh.

Check out Servd Fresh’s Calorie Controlled Meal Packages here.

2. SAY NO TO TAKEAWAYS

Aside from the obvious reasons to avoid these food options, you are also more likely to eat more if you dine out as opposed to eating delicious food at home. This will save you both time and money!

Check out Servd Fresh’s Family Dinner Packages here.

3. SMOOTHIE SAILING

A smoothie made from natural ingredients makes for a great breakfast or snack. Make sure yours is packed with healthy fats and carbs for energy. If you have one for brekkie, it will prevent you from craving sugar later on and indulging in empty carbohydrates.

Check out Servd Fresh’s Fresh Smoothie Package here.

4. PROTEIN POWER

You’ve just finished a killer workout and now your muscles need time to recover. Reach for a protein-heavy snack after training to help them out. A scoop of whey powder in a smoothie should do the trick! And make sure you are eating balanced meals with protein in each one.

Check out Servd Fresh’s balanced lunch and dinner menus here.

5. BANTING FOR THAT BOD?

If you are on a low-carb diet and find that it isn’t working for you, don’t give up! It has been proven to help burn fat and to reverse many metabolic-related symptoms like Type 2 Diabetes, heart disease and obesity. Your meals should be high in fat to control your hunger and to avoid cravings.

Check out Servd Fresh’s Banting Meal Packages here.

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