Cass Abrahams, Robertsons Spices, and Kuier Magazine Cooking Demo

This has got to be Cape Town's best kept secret! It’s a cooking demonstration with lots of extras, and without a doubt the best value one can find today for R50!

Jacqui saw a write-up in our local community newspaper about last month's event. I think there are six sessions in total (one per month). It looked really interesting, and we duly booked for Saturday 21 August. We arrived on a cold and blustery winter's morning, but despite the cold were warmly greeted by the lovely Nazmeera, the lady who handles the bookings and manages the morning.

Just to take you through what you will get for your R50:

• Fresh scones with cheese, cream and jam, plus hot coffee and tea are waiting as soon as one completes the registration. There were two young ladies from Kuier Magazine who assisted with the registrations.

• Thereafter (at approximately 09h30) Cass welcomes everyone, introduces her helpers for the day (we had two first year students assisting), and lets everyone know what she will be cooking. As far as I know, all demonstrations cover traditional Cape Malay dishes. Our selection for the day was tomato bredie, waterblommetjie bredie (a dish made from water flowers - a delicacy only grown in the Western Cape), smoor snoek (a well-known local fish, smoked and flaked, and “smothered” with cabbage, potato, onion, and of course, various spices), and malva pudding.

• There is also information on the various spices used in the dishes, and some personal stories from Cass. A lady from Robertsons Spices, Marilyn, gave a short talk on their range.

• The chance to win some spot prizes during the demonstration. 

• A very generous goodies bag. Contents consisted of an apron, three Robertsons spices, a copy of Kuier magazine, and a CD with sounds from the Cape. The bag by itself is also a useful item.

• And then finally – a three-course lunch! Our meal started with the smoor snoek, which was served with a ginger and mussel broth, followed by tomato bredie and rice for the mains, and then the best malva pudding I have had, served with custard for the dessert. Fresh orange juice and iced water were also provided.

The event is held at the Hotel School in Granger Bay – a perfect choice for it. All in all a wonderful way to spend a few hours and very little money!

Only four demonstrations left. If you would like to attend any of the upcoming events, I would suggest you book quickly. Phone Nazmeera on 071 527 4893.