Innehållsförteckning för Spring 2023 från go! Platteland

The Test Kitchen by Luke Dale-Roberts Heralded as a founding pillar of the South African fine-dining landscape, The Test Kitchen operated for eleven years, won numerous local and international awards, and moulded the careers of many talented chefs. This stunning visual keepsake as flavourful as Luke’s spectacular dishes celebrates this legacy and shares Luke’s story, as well as some of the restaurant’s most beloved and iconic recipes. With a foreword by Heston Blumenthal. R1 500 Penguin Random House penguinrandomhouse.co.za Easy Al Fresco by Ilse van der Merwe Ilse offers an inspiring guide for easy and scrumptious dishes that can all be prepared without electricity and only a few basic utensils, and a fire or kettle braai. Don’t miss the Summer issue of Platteland – we’re publishing an exclusive extract. R430…

There are few things on earth as breathtakingly beautiful and enchanting as a silky-soft flower bud held aloft by a hand of tulip leaves. Maybe it’s the simplicity of it: minimal lines, gentle, flowing. Modest pastel colours. A shy, profound beauty full of promise and with no airs and graces. No sweet perfume. No grand, dramatic gestures. Just purely a visual feast. In 2003, we were captivated by an enchanting display when we entered the famous flower market in Amsterdam. There was an ocean of flowers as well as bulbs from which to pick and choose – specifically tulip bulbs that almost made our mouths water. Seventeen shades of white, it seemed. And who knows how many variations of red and yellow and purple… and then, of course, the darker…

Writer Anna Kemp, formerly from Durban, bought her first house in the town in 2016, and in May 2017 exchanged it for a larger house where she, her daughter, Alida, and their extended family of animals live (this cover photograph was shot there). Alan Dove is a former resident of Koringberg, whereas artist Pippa Lea Pennington moved here from Durban in 2016. She has lived and worked here since. (Ironically, Pippa is posing with a loaf of bread, which she can’t eat as she is gluten-intolerant! – Eds) Rodney van Breda is a former resident who lived in Koringberg between 1997 and 2021. Alida Kemp has lived in Koringberg since 2018 with her mother, Anna, as well as five horses, four dogs and three cats. Barbara Malaisé, Platteland’s English proofreader,…

Malnutrition buster Stinging nettle is a profound ancient body-building tonic herb, full of vitamins and minerals and particularly rich in vitamin C and iron, that has stood the test of time. You can harvest the fresh leaves and nettle tops (make sure to wear gloves and a long sleeved shirt) and cook as you would spinach. Adding it to soups and stews will provide you with energy, vitality and extra strength. Eating the young nettle tops is said to be one of the best treatments for colds, flu and bronchitis. It both cleanses and detoxifies. The plant is also most useful for the treatment of gout, arthritis, poor kidney function and fluid retention. Nettle increases urine flow and can dissolve blockages in the urethra. It is also anti-allergenic, and can…

Garden success starts beneath your feet in the intricate universe of your garden soil. One of the key players here is a unique group of microbes known as anaerobic effective microorganisms (EMs) that supercharge your soil, leading to healthier, stronger plants. Anaerobic effective micro-organisms are naturally occurring microbes that thrive in environments without oxygen. They typically consist of a blend of lactic acid bacteria, yeasts, photosynthetic bacteria and other beneficial microorganisms, each playing a unique role in creating a balanced, healthy soil ecosystem. These highly beneficial organisms work together to break down organic material in the soil into nutrient-rich humus that allows plants to thrive. The fascinating thing about EMs is that they reproduce themselves. The microbes begin to multiply immediately when you spray them on the soil, forming a…

South Africans once again excelled at this year’s Intercontinental Spirits Challenge, a showcase of the best spirits made in Europe and Africa. When the African entries were judged in Stellenbosch in May, Oude Molen’s XO Cape Brandy was named one of four Trophy Award winners. The XO, which stands for “extra old”, is an elegant example of a Cape brandy. The flavour profile is not the result of any additives or fancy tricks – all it took was good wine, expertise and time, says Danie Pretorius, commercial manager at Oude Molen Distillers. It’s believed brandy was first distilled from Cape wine on board a Dutch ship in 1672. But the Belgian René Santhagens was the first man to distil brandy at the Cape according to the traditional Cognac method, in…

1 The bulbs, imported from the Netherlands, Chile and New Zealand, arrive by ship in South Africa in chilled crates. Each crate holds more than 20000 bulbs. Every 6-7 weeks, Adriaan and team receive a consignment of 500000, which immediately go into the coldest coldroom (1,5-2ºC). This keeps the bulbs dormant. 2 When the time comes to let the tulip bloom–“remember, during the resting phase, the entire flower already exists inside the bulb” – it is anchored in special crates with sharp pins. Enough water is added so that only the root crown and the bottom of the bulb are in the water. In this room, the temperature ranges between 4ºC and 9ºC to mimic the European spring. The bulbs remain here until enough root mass has formed. 3 The…

YOU NEED • the Pinterest app• cardboard (A4)• punch• ribbon THIS IS HOW Open Pinterest and type “Free spring botanical printables” in the search bar. There will be several beautiful options from which to choose. We downloaded Karen Burnett’s “Vintage Spring Botanicals”. Print the design of your choice on cardboard. Cut out the bookmarks, punch a hole in each one and thread a length of ribbon through it.…

Yvette Anderson and her partner, metaverse specialist Dale Imerman, felt an instant connection with the Karoolkie cob-house estate on their first visit in 2021. The 6ha smallholding in the centre of Barrydale belonged to Gerald and Carol Phillips. “It could have been a picture straight out of Tuscany… The vineyard looked happy, but I could see the trees in the neglected olive grove were deeply unhappy,” Yvette recounts. “And what you see above ground usually reflects what is happening below it.” Yvette, a landscape architect and ecological farmer, had spent the previous five years turning a ruined old golf course near Citrusdal into a thriving fynbos habitat with indigenous medicinal plants. She uses these plants for her product range Yamù Botanicals, which includes tea blends, dried herbs, tinctures and incense…

Menu TO START Ciabatta with olives Bruschetta with tomato, mozzarella & basil MAINS Curried kebabs (lamb or pork) Rosemary potatoes Ina’s papino-lime and-chilli sambal (recipe on page 127) DESSERT Ice-cream parfait with cherries and biscuits WITH COFFEE Three-ingredient shortbread Ciabatta with olives I learnt to make ciabatta when I worked at Bertus Basson’s restaurant Overture in Stellenbosch from 2011 to 2012. I want to make it easy for people to make ciabatta. You should get 4 lovely loaves from this recipe, depending on what you want. You could also make rolls or breadsticks. Be creative! Makes 4 loaves Preparation time 15 minutes Baking time 15–20 minutes YOU NEED • 800 ml (800 g) lukewarm water• 1 sachet (10 g) instant yeast• 1 teaspoon (5 ml) sugar (optional, but it does…

Ina Paarman and her team, who are always busy innovating, have been brain-storming and cooking up a storm in the test kitchen with their Curry Cook-In Sauces. They’ve created two brand-new flavours: Durban Curry, a hot curry sauce with full-bodied flavour, and Cape Malay Curry, a mild, sweet and savoury sauce made with fragrant spices. They’ve also made the existing Butter Chicken Curry even more flavourful, and the Tikka Curry now sports new packaging. On Ina’s website you’ll find great recipe suggestions. The range should be on shelves from September but is already for sale online at R48 for a 250 ml pouch. Contact paarman.co.za…

WESTERN CAPE Swartlandskou MOORREESBURG 6–9 September Visitors to the largest agricultural show in the Western Cape, now in its 89th year, can once again admire the finest horses, cattle, sheep, poultry and machinery. Highlights on the programme include an agricultural seminar, a formal dance, live music, market stalls, a wine garden, good food, and mountain-bike challenges over 10km, 40km and 60 km. A large part of the arena will be transformed into a play area and petting farm for children. Tickets Prices vary depending on the day and specific events; buy tickets via TicketPro Contact 022 433 1607 swartlandskou.co.za info@swartlandskou.co.za SwartlandSkou-Moorreesburg Riebeek Valley Motor Show RIEBEEK-KASTEEL 9 September Marvel at classic, vintage, veteran and antique cars, motorbikes and tractors, as well as the latest technology from, among others, Ford, Porsche…

Flower seeds R65 per packet Adene’s Farm Flowers adeneflowers.co.za Azizi women’s soft leather lace-up shoes for broader feet R1 750 Bummel bummel.co.za Vases made of reclaimed oak, from left, Teardrop, Arch and Ellie R190–R260 each Oh Nice ohnice.co.za Sense of the Karoo pomegranate syrup R95 and orange syrup R89 De Oude Fabreeck deoudefabreeck 046 685 0994 Plant-pressed ceramic side plates (165mm in diameter) R90 each Veld_Pottery veld_pottery Farmhouse Cheddar cheese with chilli, black pepper, coriander and cloves R162/kg Kingwill Cheese kingwillcheese iankingwill@twk.co.za Candles in the colour A Song of Africa (10cm–22cm tall) R60–R123 each Kers & Co kers.candle.sa orders.kers@gmail.com Unfiltered, raw, single-source Fynbos Honey (1 kg) R195 Scrub Hare scrubhare.co.za Home-made natural dog treats, from left, Sun-Dried Liver Biltong (200 g) R90 Omega Biscuits (200 g) R40 and Beefy Biscuits (200 g) R40 Jayne’s…

4,5 million The number of tulip flowers that Bloomia sells in South Africa annually. 16 million The number of flower stems that were sold in the US in 2022 in the two weeks before Mother’s Day. 20 million The number of flowers handled daily at the Aalsmeer Flower Auction in North Holland. 4-7 weeks The amount of time that passes from the moment the bulb is awakened from its winter slumber to when its flower is put on display in a shop. The Chilean bulbs, which are smaller, take seven weeks, but the older Dutch bulbs are ready within a month. 1 The number of flowers produced by a single bulb. 90% The percentage of Bloomia’s flowers that are supplied to Woolworths. The rest are delivered to a few florists…

Cokes Geldenhuys Gardener and retired librarian In October, Cokes will have been living in Koringberg for only nine years, yet he understands better than most people how to create the most beautiful garden in this harsh climate. “Forget about waterwise – I’ve learnt that this means that you must be wise about watering these plants for the first two years,” he jokes. “Save yourself many tears by planting what grows in the renosterveld, and pay extra attention to the more delicate plants.” He regularly visited his two sons in Cape Town, and they would go on drives together. Then, one day in 2012, they happened to visit Koringberg. “I was happy in Parys – you could even say my level of satisfaction was so high that it was slightly annoying.…

Mary-Anne Mngomezulu (née Cunning-ham) radiates the kindness and compassion one would expect of an angel. Together with the homeless people at the drug- and alcohol-free shelter on the corner of Marine Way and Sea Witch Avenue in Plettenberg Bay, she has curated a magnificent food and medicinal permaculture garden using no pesticides whatsoever. The entire garden is testimony to what the homeless community is capable of achieving, and is always overflowing with vegetables, various herbs, fruit trees, grains and flowers. Here people work joyfully alongside Mary-Anne – weeding, building Hügelkultur compost heaps, creating new beds, sowing, planting and cooking up the harvests. The shelter receives very few monetary contributions. Instead, Mary-Anne has created an exchange of energy further to benefit the community, using the shelter’s plants, as well as donations…

Summer – January 2016 There is a general sense that things are going from bad to worse, but sometimes they don’t – like the time my mother moved from Durban to a small Swartland village called Koringberg, about 118km from Cape Town. The town suited her as an artist, and recently divorced. Koringberg has nothing, so the living costs are low, the air is fresh, and the horizon is open. Her new patch of earth wasn’t much. There was a small house in a bad shade of maroon and a deeply neglected garden. But my mother is an artist. “Look!” she said, about to show me the photos, “the garage space is perfect for a studio!” Previously, her studio was in the basement – a dark, small and damp space…