FOREWORD

We grew up in a humble home in what was then Mafikeng, in the North West Province. Our childhood was peaceful and we were encouraged by our wise parents to be curious individuals, seizing opportunities as they came and never allowing our hands to be idle. We played sport and delved into cultural extramural activities like chess, the school newspaper and Setswana classes, yet what captivated us most was the magic of bringing flavours and fragrances together in a bowl or pan and transforming the ordinary into edible discoveries.

We weren’t limited by recipes, but were instead encouraged by our mother to play around, which cultivated our ability to ‘cook by feel’. We are extremely grateful for the freedom we were given to make a mess in the kitchen, and with the years the mess diminished as the masterpieces started to outweigh the flops.

We still flop some dishes. We are still learning. Our desire is to share our experience with you. Whether you have been cooking for years or are bravely stepping into unfamiliar territory by paging through this book, we want to impart our knowledge and encourage you to forge ahead on your own journey of discovering the magic of food.

This is why we have structured this book in such a specific way. You will find that each section features two recipes using similar ingredients to develop two distinctly different dishes. One is simpler and easier, requires much less effort and is invariably perfect for everyday eating. The second recipe makes use of more complex techniques, requires more time and effort and should be used to wow your guests at a dinner party. That being said, all of the recipes are accessible to everyone, regardless of kitchen experience. Our aim is to teach you, so that as you become more confident and comfortable, and as you grow into your kitchen, you will be able to conquer even the most challenging ‘dinner party’ recipes.

At the end of the day, we express our love of food and cooking through what we serve our guests and clients. It is as a result of this love that we have included some nostalgic dishes, such as our late mother’s flapjack recipe. Taking a dish that uses simple ingredients and easy techniques and playing around with the concept while maintaining the core integrity of the theme is our way of expressing our passions. We play in the kitchen and we hope to empower you to start playing and experimenting, too. By challenging yourself with new techniques and unfamiliar styles of cuisine you will learn that preparing food that your guests will love is not intimidating, but rather captivating.

Whether you have bought this book to challenge yourself with trickier techniques or you are starting out and need to perfect the basics, we wish you many happy hours in the kitchen. That’s where our best memories have been made.