Shefetswe
is a name I inherited from a group of friends. (an Africanisation of the word CHEF and the first part also rhymes with the shortened version of my name) We share a social media group called Wine O'Clock and have formed a wonderful bond, sharing a broad variety of similar likes & dislikes, even though we reside in different cities across South Africa. I have also been known as the Cooking Monster but for the purposes of this blog I will stick with what works for now.
Cooking
Cooking
I have always enjoyed food from around world and often allow my mind to wonder to all sorts of kitchens destinations via TV Channels My earliest memories of cooking are in my childhood family kitchen where I made my own scrambled eggs on toast and mom would forget the Apricot Jam in the Pressure Cooker and we would end up scraping it off the ceiling (OK - So it only happened once, but I do remember it.), boiling viennas for hotdogs (No microwaves back then) and plenty baking for a family of seven who would all venture off in different directions due to Girl Guide or Boy Scout adventures.
I appease my longing for good food by following food blogs, watching the Food Channel & frequenting restaurants, even if it is to have a good cappuccino or a glass of wine (two of my downfalls in life) while perusing their menu to look for the interesting, individual and creative items & then going home & trying to recreate what I read or saw. (Google is also a great help)
I entered the food/catering industry as a waiter in a steakhouse way back when, became a manager for the same steakhouse franchise later on, entered the industrial catering market before venturing into owning my own Guest House where I cooked for my guests. Venison, in all its many forms, being one of my favourite things to cook, led to a recipe or two being published in some European publication and an in-flight magazine. This then led to a wonderful cook-off with one of the Netherlands premier Braaimasters, Harm-Jan "Die BBQ Man" Bloem, on an open fire, at one of the Eastern Cape & South African premier private Game Reserves. A highlight to this day.
I have also been known to light a fire in all sorts of weather to try a new braai recipe, which led to entering Ultimate Braaimaster in 2013.
I have always enjoyed food from around world and often allow my mind to wonder to all sorts of kitchens destinations via TV Channels My earliest memories of cooking are in my childhood family kitchen where I made my own scrambled eggs on toast and mom would forget the Apricot Jam in the Pressure Cooker and we would end up scraping it off the ceiling (OK - So it only happened once, but I do remember it.), boiling viennas for hotdogs (No microwaves back then) and plenty baking for a family of seven who would all venture off in different directions due to Girl Guide or Boy Scout adventures.
I appease my longing for good food by following food blogs, watching the Food Channel & frequenting restaurants, even if it is to have a good cappuccino or a glass of wine (two of my downfalls in life) while perusing their menu to look for the interesting, individual and creative items & then going home & trying to recreate what I read or saw. (Google is also a great help)
I entered the food/catering industry as a waiter in a steakhouse way back when, became a manager for the same steakhouse franchise later on, entered the industrial catering market before venturing into owning my own Guest House where I cooked for my guests. Venison, in all its many forms, being one of my favourite things to cook, led to a recipe or two being published in some European publication and an in-flight magazine. This then led to a wonderful cook-off with one of the Netherlands premier Braaimasters, Harm-Jan "Die BBQ Man" Bloem, on an open fire, at one of the Eastern Cape & South African premier private Game Reserves. A highlight to this day.
I have also been known to light a fire in all sorts of weather to try a new braai recipe, which led to entering Ultimate Braaimaster in 2013.
Travel
Travel
My wandering spirit has taken me to many wonderful parts of our awesome country & I have often allowed my mind to wonder to all sorts of destinations via Travel Channels, Travel Blogs & perusing maps & atlases & the odd sojourn into my happy places in the African bush from a young age. Not as many as I would have liked but I'm working on changing that.
My wandering spirit has taken me to many wonderful parts of our awesome country & I have often allowed my mind to wonder to all sorts of destinations via Travel Channels, Travel Blogs & perusing maps & atlases & the odd sojourn into my happy places in the African bush from a young age. Not as many as I would have liked but I'm working on changing that.
Photography
Photography
I am by no means a professional photographer but have always appreciated an awesome image. I'm in the learning process & hope to get better. The pictures I post are all mine and will not always be the best but will be true reflections of what I have seen and where I have been.
Blogging
Blogging
I started once but allowed that blog to disappear into the cosmic void but as my Half-Century approaches I set myself a few goals & along with an encouraging chat with a friend, over a cup of coffee I have realised that it is now or never.
So 50 (that's one a week, perhaps a few more, leading up to my half-century) Destination & Culinary blogs are planned (Maybe more but I have to start somewhere. If I was 25 it would be a bit easier but........................)
I started once but allowed that blog to disappear into the cosmic void but as my Half-Century approaches I set myself a few goals & along with an encouraging chat with a friend, over a cup of coffee I have realised that it is now or never.
So 50 (that's one a week, perhaps a few more, leading up to my half-century) Destination & Culinary blogs are planned (Maybe more but I have to start somewhere. If I was 25 it would be a bit easier but........................)
