Shows
A Table in the CornerS2-17. Arum - Travis FinchIn this episode of A Table in the Corner, Russel travels to Boschendal to sit down with Travis Finch, head chef of Arum, to talk about cooking inside one of the Cape’s most ambitious agricultural ecosystems. Travis reflects on a career shaped by formative years with Peter Tempelhoff’s team and long stints abroad, before returning home to cook at the intersection of land, produce and restraint.The conversation centres on what it means to cook on a regenerative farm at scale, with direct access to gardens, livestock and orchards, and how that proximity reshapes menu thin...
2026-02-2333 min
A Table in the CornerS2-16. Tashas - Natasha SiderisIn this episode of A Table in the Corner, Russel sits down with Tasha Sideris, founder and chief executive of the Tashas restaurant group, to unpack two decades of building one of the most recognisable hospitality brands to emerge from South Africa. The conversation traces Tasha’s route into restaurants through family, osmosis and necessity rather than formal training, and how early years on the floor shaped a leadership style rooted in presence, pace and accountability.Tasha speaks candidly about scaling across continents without losing quality, the constant work of sourcing ingredients market by market, and why no...
2026-02-1730 min
A Table in the CornerS2-15. Reverie Social Table - Julia HattinghIn this episode of A Table in the Corner, Russel sits down with Julia Hattingh, chef and owner of Reverie Social Table, to unpack one of Cape Town’s most singular dining models. Julia talks through a career shaped by classical training, long stints in demanding kitchens and time abroad, before arriving at a form of hospitality that deliberately slows things down.The conversation traces her path from Mirandol and Le Quartier Français to London, Paris and back home, and how those experiences informed a move away from conventional service towards a single communal table, one men...
2026-02-1029 min
A Table in the CornerS2-14. Bao Down - Philippa & Graham OldfieldIn this episode of A Table in the Corner, Russel sits down with Philippa and Graham Oldfield, the partners behind Bao Down, one of Cape Town’s most beloved independent restaurants. The conversation traces their parallel routes through chef school, hotels, yachts and serious kitchens, before converging in a small, hard working room in Vredehoek Avenue that would quietly build a cult following.Philippa and Graham talk about learning discipline under pressure, the influence of Liam Tomlin’s kitchens, and why Bao Down was never conceived as a trend-driven project but as a tightly run, repeatable place buil...
2026-02-0333 min
A Table in the CornerS2-13. Toevlug - Drikus BrinkIn this episode of A Table in the Corner, Russel sits down with Drikus Brink, chef/proprietor of Toevlug, to trace a quietly serious cooking life shaped by farms, butcheries and long service beside Bertus Basson. Brink talks through his early years growing up around meat and trade, cooking boerewors rolls as a teenager, studying in Pretoria and arriving at Overture, to spend nearly a decade in Basson’s kitchens.The conversation moves through volume cooking, technique, pressure and instinct, from one man hot sections to breakfast services that teach humility fast. Brink reflects on what he ab...
2026-01-2733 min
A Table in the CornerS2-12. Wiggle Room - Lester & FishIn this episode of A Table in the Corner, Russel sits down at the counter of The Wiggle Room on Bree Street with co-founders Lester Riffel and chef Ismael ‘Fish’ Amos to explore one of Cape Town’s most provocative new dining concepts. Built around a 12-seat counter, The Wiggle Room throws out menus, consistency and convention in favour of freedom, creativity and connection. Lester and Fish speak candidly about their unconventional paths through hospitality, the ideas born during smoke breaks outside fine dining kitchens, and the decision to run against the grain with ever-changing menus, illustrated cards, wild i...
2026-01-2031 min
A Table in the CornerS2-11. Salon - Carla SchulzeIn this week’s episode, Russel sits down with Carla Schulze, executive chef of Salon which is part of the Test Kitchen family of restaurants. Carla reflects on her journey from studying under Jackie Cameron in KwaZulu Natal to becoming a key creative force alongside Luke Dale Roberts. The conversation explores mentorship, discipline, seasonality and the pressure of running a destination tasting menu restaurant in Cape Town. Carla speaks openly about creativity versus expectation, evolving menus, interactive dining experiences, no shows and the emotional toll they take on kitchens. This is an honest, generous discussion about leadership, resilience and wh...
2026-01-1436 min
A Table in the CornerS2-10. Mertia - Matt van den BergIn this episode of A Table in the Corner, Russel sits down with Matt van den Berg, head chef at Mertia in Stellenbosch and one of the most quietly respected chefs in the Western Cape. Matt reflects on his unconventional path into cooking, from a BCom degree and life on yachts to training at Silwood and working in some of South Africa’s most demanding kitchens, including The Test Kitchen and La Colombe. He speaks candidly about discipline, long hours, kitchen culture, and the pressure of stepping out from established restaurant groups to find his own voice. The conversation ex...
2025-12-3028 min
A Table in the CornerS2-08. Melfort - Tasmin ReedIn this episode of A Table in the Corner, Russel sits down with Tasmin Reid, the young, fiercely thoughtful chef behind Melfort, a seasonal farm to fork restaurant on Marianne Estate near Stellenbosch. Tasmin shares her journey from Silwood Kitchen to working with Ryan Cole at Salsify, her plans for Australia, and how an unexpected autoimmune diagnosis reshaped both her life and her style of cooking. Now the owner of a popular winelands restaurant, she speaks openly about healing through food, foraging, running pop ups on farms, building a kitchen team in the middle of nowhere and creating a...
2025-12-1634 min
A Table in the CornerS2-07. TTK Fledgelings - Nathan ClarkeIn this episode of A Table in the Corner, Russel sits down with Chef Nathan Clark, head chef of Test Kitchen Fledgelings. Apologies in advance - the sound quality is not the best, as I had a few technical challenges, but Nathan's story is incredible. He shares his remarkable journey from scullery to running the kitchen, rising through the ranks of the Test Kitchen group over 13 years. He speaks openly about learning under Luke Dale Roberts and Jason Kosmas, mentoring young chefs through the Fledgelings programme, and the pressures of leading a busy service in one of the city’s m...
2025-12-1125 min
A Table in the Corner127. Will Hobson - Arthur's Mini SuperWith a vague idea of generating a passive income using a bunch of catering stuff he had in storage, Will Hobson has built an iconic hangout in Sea Point with business partner Stephanie Anastasopoulos. ' Arthur's Mini Super' is many things to many people. (It's not a passive income for anyone though.) It's a place to chill after a walk on the promenade or a yoga session, a co-working spot, a handy local deli for the bread and milk, a sandwich bar, somewhere to meet for drinks after work. It's just an awesome place to hang, with a fantastic...
2025-06-1052 min
A Table in the Corner125. Geoffrey Abrahams & Teenola Govender (G&T) - CoyGeoffrey Abrahams and Teenola Govender are joint-head chefs at Coy Restaurant in the V&A Waterfront. They are affectionately known as G&T in the kitchens were they've worked, and these include Chefs Warehouse and Mazza. Having first met in the kitchen at Chefs Warehouse Beau Constantia, they are an inseparable, creative kitchen team who blew me away with Mazza at Heritage Square and have quickly established Chef Ryan Cole's Coy venue as a must-visit eatery. We sat down for a chat about their journey as chefs and the triumphant return of the Mazza fire-roasted whole fish which now...
2025-06-0351 min
A Table in the Corner124. Brett Nortjé - Rosemead Bakery, YzerfonteinA while back, when we lived in the Swartland town of Darling, one of our regular delights was the drive to Yzerfontein to collect bread. Against a pretty large proportion of 'the odds', Yzerfontein is home to one of the best bakeries in the Western Cape - Rosemead Bakery. Run by Brett Nortjé, Rosemead was an absolute legend of a place: chilled, friendly, all about locals and Brett can bake like hell. You'd always need to order bread ahead, and it would be waiting neatly wrapped on the 'collection' shelf. But then... you had to grab a couple of o...
2025-05-2735 min
A Table in the Corner123. Tunde Akintan - The Yellow WheelbarrowTunde Akintan has taken his love of chillies and hot food and turned it into an urban farming project near Gordon's Bay. We chatted about how the new product stand at OZCF Market has introduced Tunde and his 42 varieties of chillies to a broader market, with an introduction to Silwood Cookery School where he recently chatted to 1st year students about Yellow Wheelbarrow. This was a fantastic and informative chat with someone who is actively building a niche market gardening business by collecting and sharing as much information about chillies as he can.The Yellow Wheelbarrow
2025-05-2233 min
A Table in the Corner122. Henning Klopper - Zuney Wagyu & Zuney BurgerHuge supporters of this show, the team from Zuney Burger has brought an entirely fresh perspective to both livestock farming, and the farm-to-table movement. Their pasture-reared Wagyu beef makes it's way direct to consumers in the form of an astonishingly good burger. Henk Klopper and Denys Wells farm the cattle on lush pasture in the Eastern Cape, their sons Henk and Devon handle the sales and set up the burger operation. This was as much about ensuring that a certain podcaster had access to the best possible burger as it was about sustainability and an ingenious way to use...
2025-05-2036 min
A Table in the Corner121. Brad Armitage - The Mission for Inner City Cape TownIt is a bird? Is it a plane? No! It's Brad Armitage. Not for lack of trying, but it's taken 120 episodes to convince an operator I admire tremendously to pop in for a chat on the show. Not one to blow his own trumpet, along with Rui Esteves, Brad created Vida e Caffè and followed it with Brewers & Union, the craft beer legend. There have been other bangers, but we confined our chat to those and to his current project with the City of Cape Town and other role-players bringing new life and fresh perspectives to downtown Cape Town w...
2025-05-1558 min
A Table in the Corner120. Kobus vd Merwe - WolfgatI snatched a rare chance to connect with Kobus van der Merwe of Wolfgat and sit down for a chat. He was taking a break in Yzerfontein - halfway from Paternoster to Cape Town, and we met at Rosmead Bakery to record a show. I long ago joined the legion of his fans, when my wife and I enjoyed the tasting menu at his parents’ general dealer store 'Oep ve Koep' around the time we were running The Table at De Meye. Kobus is easy to admire - his laser-focus on the simple preparation of hyper-local ingredients and a co...
2025-05-1349 min
A Table in the Corner101. Turning the Tables on Russel WasserfallWith 100 episodes of A Table in the Corner in the bag, I felt it might be time to do a biographical insert for episode 101. Some of my guests have asked when the spotlight would fall on me. A few of our regular listeners have also asked via Instagram DMs when I'm going to be interviewed. Jonathan Warncke recently invited me onto his industry-focused podcast 'How to Start a Podcast in South Africa', and I cajoled him into being the guest host on my show - to turn the tables on A Table in the Corner. Turns out there was a...
2025-01-3036 min
A Table in the Corner82. Vusi Ndlovu - MliloVusi Ndlovu is the mind behind Mlilo at the Time Out Market, Cape Town. His journey to All Star chef began in hotel kitchens and grew through his time at the Greenhouse with Chef Peter Tempelhoff and later at The Saxon with Chef David Higgs. He's also been staging abroad and was a regular on the global culinary competition circuit. With partner Absie Pantshwa, he created Edge to explore his take on contemporary African cuisine in the fine dining milieu, until Mlilo gave him a chance to present simple, delicious street food from across his home continent. This was...
2024-11-0553 min
A Table in the Corner81. Tetsuo Hasegawa - AnthmWith a sparkling track record which includes some banging cocktail bars in New York, Tetsuo Hasegawa has brought his brand of precisely crafted cocktails to Cape Town. Anthm Bar in Loop Street is an intimate 35-seater with a fabulous small plate menu where local ingredients and global techniques are explored in both drinks and food. We sat down for an excellent chat about his journey from Japan to New York and thence to the Mother City. Enjoy.Anthm BarItalian WInes and Spirits by Gabba International www.rwm2012.com On Instagram @a...
2024-10-3033 min
A Table in the Corner80. Matthew Ibbotson - Crush! MagazineCrush! online magazine is a digital food publication that started documenting food and food people in Cape Town way back in 2008. I sat down for a natter with founder, publisher and general creative head Matthew Ibbotson, and while food was at the core of the discussion, it was also about media, publishing and the effect the restaurant scene had and continues to have on the global media scene.Read CRUSH! here Cheese from Dalewood FromageItalian Wines from Gabba International www.rwm2012.com On Instagram @a_table_inthecorner Cover image...
2024-10-2435 min
A Table in the Corner79. Claudia Alberti - Not Sad Food Co.Pop-ups fascinate me. I’m interested in the business model - how they work, and the benefits or challenges they present for operators. I’ve seen and heard a lot about Not Sad Food Co. so I reached out to Claudia Alberti for a chat about how (and why) she and her partner Yoraya Nydoo run pop-ups and kitchen takeovers. They’ve developed a fun, funky food brand, free of the constraints of walls and a permanent location - but what’s next?Not Sad Food Co.Gabba International - Italian Wines & SpiritsKaas Clu...
2024-10-2235 min
A Table in the Corner78. Luca Castiglione - Limoncello & Cape Town Food TrucksLimoncello in Gardens was once my favourite neighbourhood eatery. It was always buzzing and fun, the pizzas were fantastic - in fact everything on the menu was. Then it closed. Limoncello became a beautiful food truck for a while and now it’s a much-loved local in Noordhoek. I sat down with owner and chef Luca Castiglione to talk about his food journey and food trucks, then I nearly made him cry when I mentioned putting pineapple on pizza. Limoncello RestaurantGabba International: Italian wine importersDalewood cheeses from Kaas Club...
2024-10-1742 min
A Table in the Corner77. Lance Littlefield - MotherdoughMotherdough was started by Lance Littlefield and his partner Willem van Schalkwyk during lockdown as a source of advice, equipment and a reliable starter for people caught up in the craze of baking sourdough bread. Lance's starter 'Alfonsina' is over a century old and comes from Piedmont in Italy. He's been her care-giver for over 25 years. When the world started returning to normal after Covid, and people were less focused on baking at home, Lance and Willem made the leap to open their own artisanal bakery with Alfonsina in Franschhoek. Their mission is to bake real bread and a...
2024-10-1450 min
A Table in the Corner76. Ryan Shell - Ōku, Yama and ElevenRyan Shell is a lekker oke. He kindly and very graciously jumped into the gap when the original Ryan booked for this slot was suddenly called away on family business. It was a serendipitous moment though, as Ryan Shell of Ōku restaurant has been on my target list of people to interview for a while. He's a very capable operator who creates happy teams and runs great restaurants and his perspectives were refreshing and often funny. We also had a couple of good-natured jabs at Ryan Boon who I look forward to chatting to in a future show.Ōku...
2024-10-0755 min
A Table in the Corner75. Craig Cormack - The Salt ChefChef Craig Cormack is completely obsessed with salt. It began when he started reading Mark Kurlansky's brilliant book, 'Salt: A World History' and began a journey into a rich and global culinary past. It has seen him develop entire menus based on the salts of the world, the wines of the Western Cape and recipes that have been knocking around for a couple of thousand years. He has a restaurant called Salt at Waterford Estate with his business partner Beau du Toit, and they are about to open a concept restaurant in Doha, Qatar called The Salt Road. We...
2024-09-2432 min
A Table in the Corner74. PJ Vadas - Vadas SmokehousePJ Vadas once worked for Gordon Ramsay, so he swears a bit. He's also a really clever and successful restaurateur who has an easy and fun approach to what he does. Vadas Smokehouse at Spier Wine Estate is a fabulous place to visit - modelled loosely on Texas BBQ, but with a distinct local signature that PJ can't help stamping on anything he does. We had a great chat and touched on fishing, pasteis de nata, his background in fine dining, his early days interning for Marcus Farbinger at Ile de Pain and, of course, the success of his s...
2024-09-1935 min
A Table in the Corner73. Heleen Meyer - Food ConsultantHeleen Meyer is a Cape Town-based food consultant who works across a wide range of disciplines to service companies in the broader food sphere. From recipe development to writing, styling and photography to video content production, she tells stories about food across a range of platforms. The former Sarie Magazine staffer has built a career advising and creating for corporates mainly in the fresh ingredient sector and has become a noted and respected voice in the arena of healthy eating. Chatting to Helen was fascinating and refreshing.Heleen Meyer FoodHeleen Meyer on Instagram - @heleenmeyerfood
2024-09-1735 min
A Table in the Corner72. Lyndall Maunder - Clarke'sClarke's Bar & Dining Room is an enduring favourite daytime spot for me. It's a cool, easy spot for a coffee, breakfast or a solo lunch. If I lived in the city, I'd probably prop up their counter on many nights too. Their burgers haunt my dreams, although anything you care to order at that counter is likely to be perfectly executed and delicious. On this episode, I chatted to Lyndall Maunder - creator and owner of the Bree Street stalwart, fashioned in the style of an American diner. Look out for the new 'Takeaways' segment at the start o...
2024-09-1136 min
A Table in the Corner71. Ryan Cole - COY and SalsifyAt the water's edge, amid the bustle of a working harbour, Chef Ryan Cole has opened a gorgeous little restaurant simply called COY. While the location is in the heart of the V&A Waterfront, midway between Time Out Market and The Cape Grace, it is also aloof. Isolated from the foot traffic and bustle of the precinct, unassuming but beautiful, COY sits at the entrance to Robinson Dry Dock, the oldest operating dry dock in the world. Well known for his innovative menus centring African ingredients and techniques, Chef Cole is exploring the coastline of Africa...
2024-09-0938 min
A Table in the Corner70. Lindile Ndzaba - Khayelitsha's Finest WinesLindile Ndzaba is a young man I admire tremendously. He has built a wine brand with nothing but an idea and his drive to do something extraordinary in his community. Khayelitsha's Finest Wines started as a project to bring decent wine to his neighbours 'elokshini', in the sprawling township of Khayelitsha outside Cape Town. Working in the city, exposed to fine wines in his role as a front-of-house staff member, he was frustrated by the shoddy wines on offer in the taverns and eateries around his home. Working in his spare time he learned about wine and started...
2024-09-0537 min
A Table in the Corner69. Tania Olivier - ATE EateryI initially reached out to Tania Olivier of ATE Eatery when she posted online about working on a cookbook. I've been wanting to talk about cookbooks on the show for a while. Turns out her publishing project is another thing entirely, but we started talking about South African food and how she cooks her experiences of being South African for guests in her home. Tania is fascinating and such an enthusiastic and patriotic cook that this episode could have gone on for hours. Some interesting perspectives on welcoming people into your home and serving them food derived from your...
2024-08-2737 min
A Table in the Corner68. Samantha Skyring - Oryx SaltThere are such wildly conflicting views about salt, and the seasoning of food. Depending on where you look or who you ask, salt is either beneficial for your health or an ogre to banish from the table. Years ago I read a fascinating book on salt, and it's role in human history, by Mark Kurlansky, so I'm a bit of a salt geek. I found another one, Samantha Skyring, who owns Oryx Salt and we sat down for a natter about this seasoning element and what it brings to the table. www.rwm2012.com On...
2024-08-2228 min
A Table in the Corner67. Kit Heathcock - The Burger ChatI read a fantastic article in Daily Maverick by Kit Heathcock about Zuney Burgers in Kloof Street. It also touched on the wagyu industry and an interesting trend in farm-to-consumer eateries that are popping up. I have an abiding love for burgers, have written about them and eaten probably more than my fair share. I reached out to Kit to strike up a conversation about her story and burgers in general. It sort of differs from the more biographical content on food producers and chefs that appears here, but I thought it would be a great chat. I was...
2024-08-1629 min
A Table in the Corner66. Liam Tomlin - Chefs WarehouseChef Liam Tomlin is about to open a revamped Chefs Warehouse & Canteen at 91 Bree Street in the CBD along with Chef David Schneider. Also in that gorgeous old building, they're opening Merchant - a restaurant dedicated to the suppliers and producers of fine local ingredients. I've been waiting for a chance and a reason to sit down with Liam Tomlin for a chat. And while we did discuss replacing The Bailey with an 'old school' Chefs Warehouse, of course we ranged over other topics like his erstwhile Sydney restaurant Banc. with questions I couldn't resist asking. Sitting down with...
2024-08-1340 min
A Table in the Corner65. Georgina Visser - Dalewood CheeseOne of the joys of running our restaurant 'The Table at de Meye' was my regular visits to Dalewood nearby to collect cheese for the weekend menu. I've always loved their cheeses - especially the 'Huegenot'. Theirs is a singular farming philosophy which has attracted global attention and numerous awards. All their cheese is made with milk from a herd of Jersey cows pastured exclusively on Dalewood farm. There isn't a cheese more rooted in its terroir - or traceable to the pasture - as Dalewood. While building and nurturing this exceptional cheesery, Rob and Petrina Visser have also...
2024-08-0830 min
A Table in the Corner64. Alex Bosman - Head Gardener, BabylonstorenRegular listeners will have picked up my abiding interest in the 'regenerative agriculture' movement. While science is teaching us more and more about the world and providing the tools to understand it better, it seems we are returning to more traditional ways of producing food. This is true of the great undertaking that is Babylonstoren, where natural farming methods lead and very clever and dedicated people like Alex Bosman - head gardener on the estate - are pushing and teaching better ways of looking after our soil and the food we eat. This was a really enlightening chat, and...
2024-08-0626 min
A Table in the Corner63. Schalk Vlok - Babel at BabylonstorenBabylonstoren is a fascinating project that has grown immensely since I last visited. There is just so much going on there. The return to mixed farming, the use of regenerative farming techniques in the fields and beds is incredible. There's so much happening, that the content couldn't be limited to just one episode. In the first of a couple of chats with key people on the farm, I spoke to executive chef Schalk Vlok about his role at Babel and the other restaurants there. So interesting how chefs are starting to think about produce and farming, and the people...
2024-08-0128 min
A Table in the Corner62. Charmaine Lilje & Kenneth McClartyFollowing on from a couple of conversations about the nitty-gritty of running restaurants, I called on a couple of my favourite local operators to get their view of the world. Kenneth McClarty has been running Olympia Café in Kalk Bay since 1997, so he knows something about keeping a ship afloat. Charmaine Lilje of Chardonnay Deli is a spring chicken by comparison, but the accumulative experience of running 3 successful eateries in the 'South' heaps wisdom upon her in my eyes. We sat down on a stormy Cape morning recently for a natter about the business and the challenges of running r...
2024-07-3032 min
A Table in the Corner61. Nic Haarhoff - El Burro TacqueriaEl Burro holds a place in many Capetonian hearts. The Tacquerias are doing great, but Nic and Rene Haarhoff decided a few years ago that managing big 150-seater restaurants demanded too much time and energy that they should be investing into raising their two sons. The big El Burros - especially the Greenpoint one - are sorely missed by many, but the ethos of hand-making everything from scratch and the warmth of their hospitality surge on in El Burro Tacquerias. There's one in Kloof Street and the other is downstairs from the original El Burro in Greenpoint, where Bao...
2024-07-2438 min
A Table in the Corner60. Richard Key - Restaurateur and Restaurant ConsultantDespite his youthful good looks , Richard Key knocks the oats out of anyone else I know for restaurant industry wisdom and knowledge. Whenever we see each other, the topic turns to 'the game' immediately. He knows so much, and I've leaned often on his knowledge to sense-check ideas for projects I've worked on. As much as he and his wife Gillian love restaurants and the hospitality industry, he is clear-eyed about its challenges. Richard has a knack for holding complex figures and costings in his head, and is able to tell you pretty accurately at the drop of a h...
2024-07-1838 min
A Table in the Corner59. Ilana Sharlin Stone - Food Writer and ChefReaders of Daily Maverick who read the lifestyle content, especially the food section edited by Tony Jackman, will recognise my guest on this episode from her byline. An American who's lived in Cape Town for 30 years, Ilana Sharlin Stone is a great food writer whose portfolio includes work for Saveur, Life and Thyme, Los Angeles Times, and many others. After starting out as a writer, Ilana took herself off to study at the Culinary Institute of America and became a chef so that she could better understand and write about food. Of course that opened more doors and she s...
2024-07-1538 min
A Table in the Corner58. Ferdiane Barabwiriza - Sense of Taste Chef SchoolMuch of the content on this show is focused on established restaurants and other food businesses or their proprietors. Ever since I chatted to Chef Pete Ayub way back on Episode 17, I've been thinking about chatting to a young person who's just getting going in the industry. Debs Ayub very kindly talked one of the students at Sense of Taste Chef School into chatting to me on the show. Meet Ferdiane Barabwiriza, a second year chef student who is about to start an internship, or 'stage', at Pot Luck Club with Jason Kosmas. We spoke of her route into...
2024-07-1023 min
A Table in the Corner57. Pierre Winshaw - Winshaw EateryWinshaw is a name with deep roots and a fabulous story in the growth and development of the wine industry in Stellenbosch. It is also the site of the best steak and chips I've eaten in absolute ages. On the Baden Powell Road edge of Stellenbosch, Winshaw Eatery is the 'tasting' room for the Winshaw brothers' wine and pasture-reared beef farm. You can even collect a tray of eggs from their pastured egg-mobiles while you're there. Pierre Winshaw joined me for a chat about legacy, regenerative agriculture, simplicity in execution, and making do with what you have to create...
2024-07-0431 min
A Table in the Corner56. Holly Rey - Baking with the ReysWhere do I even begin with this one? Holly Rey is a complete legend. (She's my niece.) I would say 'rockstar' to coin another worn phrase, but rock is not her genre and my niece is so much more than a recording artist and entertainer. As the first woman in 20 years to win a SAMA Best Song Award for the smash hit 'Deeper' (Brenda Fassie won for 'Vulindlela' in 1999), and the winner of the first South African season of 'Masked Singer' there's no question she's talented. It also seems that anything this clever human (my niece) touches tends to sp...
2024-06-2733 min
A Table in the Corner55. Di Bibby - Bibby's KitchenI've been following Di Bibby on Insta since some time in 2017. Her 'Cake Friday' segment is a particular favourite, and I would sometimes dip into her blog 'Bibby's Kitchen' for inspiration when I was still shooting food. On a recent trip to the 'Mother City' to launch her latest book, Di very kindly agreed to sit down and record an episode for A Table in the Corner with me. Behind the simplicity, practicality and adventurousness of her cooking, I found a wonderfully grounded personality who will just as happily share a fabulous recipe with you or a sharp insight...
2024-06-2433 min
A Table in the Corner54. Adam Mason - Raised by Wolves, Yardstick WinesFor Adam Mason, making wine is an expression of life. The experiences and moments that combine to define a life are equally central to creating or 'raising' a great wine. He should know. From the vineyards of the Loire Valley by way of Klein Constantia, to his own brands - Raised by Wolves and Yardstick - Adam’s wines are the journal of a fascinating journey. This chat was so illuminating, and such a pleasure.Raised by Wolves www.rwm2012.com On Instagram @a_table_inthecorner Cover image sketched by Courtney Cara Lawson All pr...
2024-06-2143 min
A Table in the Corner53. Dave & Ishara Chetty - Doughed, DurbanMeet the Durban couple who opened the city's first Napoli-style pizza place. Doughed Wood-fired Dining on the Florida Road strip offers wnderful 72-hour fermented sourdough pizza bases with a variety of both traditional and whimsical local toppings. I chatted to them about their obsession with Italy and it's rustic food traditions, discovering their reputation for making insane canoli along the way. A massive and seemingly endless curiosity about food and its origins, fuels their food journey, and their latest project is sourdough croissants. DoughedPortrait supplied www.rwm2012.com On Instagram @a_table_int...
2024-06-1432 min
A Table in the Corner52. Theo Chiloane - 9th Avenue Waterside, DurbanSet in Durban's Yacht Mole, surrounded masts that dance on the tides, 9th Avenue Waterside occupies an iconic location in the east coast city. It has a long heritage in fine dining to live up to, and by all accounts it is doing so with Chef Theo Chiloane at the helm. Technical precision and immaculate presentation are the hallmarks of this internationally experience chef, who manages to bring a healthy sprinkling of local flavour and a sense of adventure to the offering at this buzzing venue.9th Avenue Waterside www.rwm2012.com On Instagram...
2024-06-1226 min
A Table in the Corner51. Ndumiso Mncwabe - Authentiq, DurbanNdu Mncwabe is a legend. He is the much-loved proprietor of Authentiq in Durban's Florida Road, and was a contestant way back on Season 3 of Masterchef SA. We chatted about operating venues in Durban, bringing African flavours and inspiration to local menus and a bunch of other stuff. He's a natural host and very easy to engage with on his favourite topic - the hospitality game. www.rwm2012.com On Instagram @a_table_inthecorner Cover image sketched by Courtney Cara Lawson All profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise credited Title music: 'In Time' by...
2024-06-1126 min
A Table in the Corner50. Amy Gardiner - Humble Coffee, DurbanAmy Gardiner is a peach! Her brand, Humble Coffee, is a touchstone for quality and inclusivity in its Durban home, much loved both by her wholesale and coffee shop customers. A social entrepreneur at heart, Amy also has an instinctive understanding of building strong brands. She has worked hard on her roasting and trading skills, while creating a wonderful team to drive the Humble Coffee promise and engagement. I thoroughly enjoyed my chat with her on a recent visit to Durban. Humble Coffee www.rwm2012.com On Instagram @a_table_inthecorner Cover image sketched...
2024-06-0629 min
A Table in the Corner49. Brian Green - Group 44 PropertiesBrian Green is the creative mind behind 44 Stanley, the iconic urban renewal development in Jozi. We met at a friend’s birthday lunch recently, and our chat about renting space to restaurants and the role of eateries and other creative businesses in reviving urban spaces turned into a podcast. Brian’s Group 44 outfit also did Victoria Yards in Johannesburg and more recently developed a building in the Bree Street precinct. It’s a wide-ranging chat about an angle on running restaurants that I really enjoyed. Group 44 www.rwm2012.com On Instagram @a_table_inthec...
2024-06-0432 min
A Table in the Corner48. Rupesh Kassen - Eat Like a LocalFood tours are a great way to discover the pulse of a city when you travel. That's how Rupesh Kassen has always immersed himself in the cities he's travelled to. So when he moved to Cape Town and started exploring the food and culture of the 'Mother City', it seemed an obvious gap in the local tourism market that he could step into. With a background as a chef and a long stint in the corporate finance world, he thought it was time for (another) career change, so he started Eat Like A Local. It's a food tour that...
2024-05-3137 min
A Table in the Corner47. Anwar Abdullatief - The Happy UnclesBarely a week after we recorded this chat, Chef Anwar Abdullatief’s restaurant was named African Restaurant of the Year at the Luxe Restaurant Awards. A stunning achievement for an talented chef who never really intended to open a restaurant. Tired of fine diner kitchens, he thought he’d do something with food products. Somehow, along the way he found himself opening the excellent Barakat at Time Out Cape Town, and then The Happy Uncles, the city’s first halal fine diner, kind of opened itself at his production kitchen in Voortrekker Road. His journey is a fascinating one, and it...
2024-05-2436 min
A Table in the Corner46. Bertus Basson - Motorcycle and Land Rover EnthusiastHe's been on my list of people to chat to since the very first show, but I finally got to sit down with Bertus Basson for a conversation that was totally not kak. We first met when I shot a portrait of a young chef who was shaking up the restaurant scene in Cape Town back in 2008. We've known each other 16 years and he is a friend I respect and admire even though we don't see each other much because he has a family, seven restaurants, a catering company, a pig and a bunch of dogs. We spoke about...
2024-05-1748 min
A Table in the Corner45. Richard Bosman - CharcutierThis fascinating chat with charcutier Richard Bosman was prompted by an article about a dish he created for a story by Tony Jackman in Daily Maverick. I've known Richard for a while and always admired his artisanal charcuterie business, but reading the story reminded me that he'd be a great person to chat to on the show. While much of the discussion is about a traditional food craft, running a food business and Richard's background and business journey, we do touch on the source of various cuts of meat and the animal used to produce them. If such discussion i...
2024-05-1034 min
A Table in the Corner44. Jason Kosmas - Pot Luck Club - The 'Season Chat’After a banging season, I got a chance to sit down again with Jason Kosmas of Pot Luck Club. In our ‘post-season’ chat, we spoke about the suppliers, the team and the planning that got him through the 2023/2024 Summer at both the Biscuit Mill site and PLC Johannesburg. Reflections on the economic impacts of running restaurants are part of the conversation in this second bite at the apple talking to a chef at the top of his game.Pot Luck Club, Cape Town www.rwm2012.com On Instagram @a_table_inthecorner Cover image sket...
2024-05-0332 min
A Table in the Corner43. Courtney Cara Lawson - Bartender : FableCocktail Bar culture has a firm grip on the Cape Town hospitality scene. It's uncharted territory for many. But if you have a seasoned bartender like Courtney Cara Lawson to help identify what to order and where to go - what's a good cocktail venue and what's merely a bar - you can navigate your way to a fine evening out. I sat down for a chat with a dear friend, and learned a lot about a trend which has people eschewing alcohol-forward, bitter classics like the negroni and choosing the carefully crafted offerings of a banging cocktail lounge...
2024-04-2636 min
A Table in the Corner42. Jason Lilley - Jason BakeryJason Bakery has a bit of a cult following in the Mother City. Jason Lilley been the baker of choice for a generation of Capetonians - from his hole-in-the-wall bakery on Bree Street, laminating croissants by hand, to his current home in Green Point, with all the gear he needs to run a modern bakery/restaurant. I chatted to him about putting his name on the door and building an intensely personal and successful brand. It's all about his obsession with bread and pastry, his quirky sense of humour, creating spaces to enjoy with his friends, and being, at...
2024-04-1937 min
A Table in the Corner41. Kiara Scott - Brookdale Wine EstateKiara Scott-Farmer became the head winemaker at Brookdale Estate near Paarl at the tender age of 26. Since then she has made an impression on the industry and a number of 'wine ous' whose palates I respect. Her journey from Mitchell's Plain to this gorgeous property set against the mountains overlooking Paarl is a fascinating one. We sat down for a chat with a view over the vineyards, and spoke about her wines, particularly the Mason Road Serendipity which is now my favourite rosé.Brookdale Estate www.rwm2012.com On Instagram @a_table_inthecorner C...
2024-04-1533 min
A Table in the Corner40. Sheryl Ozinsky - OZCF MarketOriginally conceived as a community-building project to help create a safer neighbourhood, Oranjezicht City Farm became a model and a springboard for urban and sustainable farming projects in Cape Town and beyond. Under the guidance of Sheryl Ozinsky and her partner Caz Friedman, it also sprouted a few stalls which has gone on to become a wildly popular, world-class food market that welcomes as many as 15,000 visitors a week in season. In this episode we chat about the origins, the growth and the future of the OZCF Market.OZCF Marker, Granger Bay www.rwm2012...
2024-04-0932 min
A Table in the Corner39. Kevin Wood - Adventurer and Brewer, DarlingCo-founder and former owner of Darling Brew, Kevin Wood sat down to chat with me about how his brewing journey started. It's a canned history of the early days of the craft beer industry that he navigated with his wife and co-founder Philippa Wood. Darling Brew shot to prominence in the industry back when men were men and beer was nervous. He left the game in the tumult of Covid, and now runs a smokehouse and adventure centre called 'Living Colour' outside his home town of Darling in the Western Cape. For fans of his approach to making beer, t...
2024-03-3138 min
A Table in the Corner38. Abena Danquah - Ghana JollofAbena Danquah has joined a growing offering of African food stalls at the Neighbourgoods Food Market at the Biscuit Mill in Salt River. On the strength of her success, selling delicious Ghanaian street food, she opened her restaurant 'Ghana Jollof' in Main Road in Woodstock in December 2023, and it's pumping. We sat down to chat about her journey, the popularity of jollof, and the growth of African food outlets in the city. The traffic noise of a busy city road intruded a little into the recording, so bear with us as I chat to this wonderful entrepreneur about the...
2024-03-2826 min
A Table in the Corner37. Emma Wilson - Commercial Food StylistEmma Wilson has beed a food stylist for a while. I first met her when she assisted the gifted stylist Lisa Clark, back in my days as a food photographer. We laughed our way through some reminiscences and a chat about food styling as a career, how she got started and how she would go about it if she was starting out today. The interview went by in a flash and at some stage I think we need to talk some more about the business end of styling and how food has become such force within the marketing universe...
2024-03-2627 min
A Table in the Corner36. Charles Bryant - Six Dogs GinSix Dogs is an iconic South African gin brand produced on a small farm that straddles the Karoo and Cape Floral biomes in the Western Cape. On this episode, I chat to Charles Bryant the founder and creative engine behind the distillery which produces gins that are as at home on the shelves of Cape Town's finest bars as they are in drinkeries in 30 countries around the world. From the dream to the working still and future plans, it was an engrossing conversation.Six Dogs Distillery www.rwm2012.com On Instagram @a_table_inthecorner C...
2024-03-1927 min
A Table in the Corner35. Luke Dale Roberts - Salon, Pot Luck Club, Test Kitchen FledgelingsI sat down with Luke Dale Roberts at Salon Restaurant in The Biscuit Mill and we spoke of many things. His creative drive is enormous, and the desire to explore his craft through an eclectic range of cooking techniques and styles is strong with him. It was an effortless chat with one of the greats in our restaurant universe that touched on The Test Kitchen, Fledgelings, Pot Luck Club and the evolution of Salon. A cracker of a conversation.Salon www.rwm2012.com On Instagram @a_table_inthecorner Cover image sketched by Courtney Cara L...
2024-03-1535 min
A Table in the Corner34. Dale Kushner - Bigga D's Food TruckProduction company owner Dale Kushner has brought authentic birria tacos to Cape Town from his seasonal home in Los Angeles. Bigga D's food truck is kind of a side hustle that started in lockdown when the film industry shut down. Dale needed something to do, he loves cooking and was missing his favourite LA street food. We sat down to talk about food trucks and authentic flavours, and I got my taco fix for the week. www.rwm2012.com On Instagram @a_table_inthecorner Cover image sketched by Courtney Cara Lawson All profile portraits by R...
2024-03-1225 min
A Table in the Corner33. Errieda du Toit - SA Food Maven - Episode 2In the second episode of our chat, Errieda du Toit introduces me to her new-found obsession with live-fire cooking. Kokkedoor Vuur en Vlam was born out of her love of gathering people around a fire and feeding them. Even though we jabbered enough to fill two episodes, there is no doubt I will be going back for more some time soon.Errieda's Instagram www.rwm2012.com On Instagram @a_table_inthecorner Cover image sketched by Courtney Cara Lawson All profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise credited Title music: 'In Time' by Olexy via P...
2024-03-0526 min
A Table in the Corner32. Errieda du Toit - SA Food Maven - Episode 1Errieda du Toit is my absolute best! She is a bottomless mine of food knowledge who approaches cooking and culinary culture with a breathtaking passion. Our conversation meandered over many topics including her work as a content producer for some of South Africa's favourite television cooking shows. It's a cracker, and so rich we had to break it into two episodes. I loved talking to her and completely adore this fireball of a human.Errieda's Instagram www.rwm2012.com On Instagram @a_table_inthecorner Cover image sketched by Courtney Cara Lawson All profile portraits...
2024-03-0126 min
A Table in the Corner31. Iming Lin - Meuse FarmAn absolutely enthralling conversation with Iming Lin on an oft-forgotten aspect of the restaurant trade - where the food comes from. Iming is a grower of interesting and unusual food plants which she supplies to local restaurants from her little 'farm' on the edge of Hout Bay. With a background growing for Ban Barber's Blue Hills restaurant at Stone Barns in New York State, Iming is incredibly knowledgable about contemporary, sustainable market gardening, and what it means to grow beautiful food for chefs at the top of their game. Meuse Farm www.rwm2012.com...
2024-02-2726 min
A Table in the Corner30. Gillian Key - Mozambik N1 CityThe name Gillian Key often pops up in the comments section of local social media food groups, with informed views on the restaurant scene. I remembered a conversation I had with her some time back about running franchise restaurants, and thought I'd quiz her about the Mozambik restaurant she runs with husband Richard and her experience and thoughts around running eateries. We spoke for hours, but I managed to edit our chat down to a nuggety half hour. I have no doubt we will spend many more hours chatting about our shared obsession - the food industry. Mozambik
2024-02-2024 min
A Table in the Corner29. Steve Duke - No Fixed AddressWe're going very local in this episode and interviewing Chef Steve Duke, the creator behind No Fixed Address and a Japanese-style fried chicken he serves on noodles to rapturous applause by Muizenberg locals. His market staple dish and the canapé-based catering business he runs made for an engrossing conversation. I bumped into him shopping at a local grocery market, and we recorded our chat at a bit of a noisy spot near his dark kitchen in Cape Town's Southern Suburbs. (There's a bit of a ragged sound floor due to passing traffic, so please bear with us for th...
2024-02-1626 min
A Table in the Corner28. Hein van Tonder - Photographer and CeramicistHein van Tonder is an international award-winning food photographer who began his creative journey by starting a food blog. I've known him since the very beginning of Heinstirred and have been privileged to watch an incredible talent emerge. We chatted about his path, the breaks and the images along the way as well as his new foray into ceramics.HeinstirredHein's blog about this episode www.rwm2012.com On Instagram @a_table_inthecorner Cover image sketched by Courtney Cara Lawson All profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise credited Title music: 'In Time' b...
2024-02-1326 min
A Table in the Corner27. Jenna Short - Short and Sweet ChocolatesJenna Short is a pastry chef of no mean skill who has created a sumptuous chocolate business that is a complete delight. With her little team in their Woodstock factory, she produces the most beautiful chocolate bonbons and slabs which stretch both indulgence and creativity, taking the craft to new heights. We chatted about chocolate and some of her background as a chef, but mostly about the pain and joy of starting a little business in the food space.Short & SweetProfile image courtesy Ashleigh @widewingshoots www.rwm2012.com On Instagram @a_table...
2024-02-0628 min
A Table in the Corner26. Sam Linsell - Drizzle and DipPhotographer, food stylist, recipe developer, writer, videographer, digital maven - there is no end to the things Sam Linsell has mastered and continues to learn in the food universe she has created with Drizzle and Dip. It's my favourite food blog and I've known Sam long enough to remember her early forays into food photography. It's been a joy to watch the growth and success and I thoroughly enjoyed catching up with Sam to find out where it started and where her digital food journey will take her.Drizzle and Dip(Profile image by Liza van Deventer f...
2024-01-3026 min
A Table in the Corner25. Franck Dangereux - The Foodbarn - Episode #2In the second instalment of my conversation with Chef Franck Dangereux, we’ve moved beyond La Colombe to discuss the creation of The Foodbarn in Noordhoek. We talk about running a restaurant, pleasing customers and reflect on who Chef Franck believes is 'killing it' in local kitchens, taking Cape Town’s culinary scene to new heights.The Foodbarn - Noordhoek www.rwm2012.com On Instagram @a_table_inthecorner Cover image sketched by Courtney Cara Lawson All profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise credited Title music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay
2024-01-2326 min
A Table in the Corner24. Franck Dangereux - The Foodbarn - Episode #1Chef Franck lives quietly in Noordhoek, surfing whenever the waves look good, walking the dogs on the beach and enjoying a simple life dedicated to family, friends and horses. Few around him realise (and he definitely wouldn’t mention it unless you asked) that the chef/owner of The Foodbarn was behind the launch of La Colombe, the restaurant that propelled Cape Town fine dining into the hearts and award ceremonies of the culinary world. This is Episode 1 of my chat with Chef Franck Dangereux.The Foodbarn Noordhoek www.rwm2012.com On Instagram @a_ta...
2024-01-1526 min
A Table in the Corner23. Wynand van Rooyen - Cooking in PrivateWynand van Rooyen was the youngest ever Sunday Times Chef of the Year back in 2011. He was a stalwart in the kitchen at the Mount Nelson and went on to come a close second in a legendary season of Ultimate Braai Master with his wife and fellow chef, Kirby. I've known him for years and really enjoy his easy, relaxed style. We chatted about running restaurants (he owned Woodlands Grill for a bit), pop-ups, private cheffing and his dream of opening a restaurant called 'The Flying Boar'. www.rwm2012.com On Instagram @a_table_inthecorner...
2023-12-2627 min
A Table in the Corner22. Darryl Burger - The Field KitchenDarryl Burger is a caterer with a fiercely loyal following. After 12 years of running 'The Field Kitchen', he is still excited by the challenges of producing inventive menus that bring joy - whether at weddings or on photo shoots. He's an inveterate foodie who's one of my go-to humans when I need to know something about ingredients or wines. It's also worth making friends with him as he throws the best dinner parties I've ever attended - but only in Winter. www.rwm2012.com On Instagram @a_table_inthecorner Cover image sketched by Courtney Cara...
2023-12-1926 min
A Table in the Corner21. Clark Truter - Wine MerchantIncredibly knowledgeable about Western Cape wines, a source of endless outstanding suggestions for great table wines and all-round excellent fellow Clark Truter is my guest on episode 21 . We chatted about movement in the industry, restaurant wine lists and where to begin to educate your palate if you're interested in wine. It was a fun time with my favourite wine ou. www.rwm2012.com On Instagram @a_table_inthecorner Cover image sketched by Courtney Cara Lawson All profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise credited Title music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay
2023-12-1229 min
A Table in the Corner20. Michelle Nelson - A Cook in the WindMichelle Nelson is perfectly happy with her job running a studio in a bustling Cape Town branding agency. It suits her just fine. Yet she constantly has friends and family who love her cooking asking why she doesn't start another restaurant. Michelle has been there, done that. She's worked as a caterer on movie sets and run her own little suburban cafe. We chatted about burning out in the catering game and why you really shouldn't sink your life's savings into an eatery in a doomed location... www.rwm2012.com On Instagram @a_table_inthecorner...
2023-12-0521 min
A Table in the Corner19. Ben Bettendorf - Obi RestaurantBen Bettendorf grew up in the restaurant trade. He went from working in his father's restaurants to cooking in some top local kitchens, and now runs one of the most popular sushi restaurants in Cape Town with his partner 'Papa San'. A life in front-of-house and kitchens has given him a rare insight into the delights (and the eye-rolls) of dealing with customers, and plenty of grist for his hilarious observations about working in the service industry. We chatted about Obi Restaurant in Long Street and his analogies about customer service moments. www.rwm2012.com O...
2023-11-2832 min
A Table in the Corner18. Claire Gunn - Food Photographer & Visual Artist www.rwm2012.com On Instagram @a_table_inthecorner Cover image sketched by Courtney Cara Lawson All profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise credited Title music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay
2023-11-2132 min
A Table in the Corner17. Peter Ayub - Sense of Taste & Urban PlaygroundChef Peter Ayub has been teaching cooking as a trade to young chefs in Cape Town for over a decade. Along with his wife Debs, he runs the Sense of Taste Cooking School in Maitland and it turns out capable and confident young chefs, many of whom I've encountered in kitchens during my career as a food writer and photographer. In the aftermath of Covid, they opened a little 40 seater restaurant called Urban Playground on the school premises and it's become a sensation. We chatted about cooking, careers, community service and bewildered customers among other things.
2023-11-1624 min
A Table in the Corner16. Cheyne Morrisby - Cheyne's & Bang KCheyne Morrisby has been a popular figure on the Cape Town dining scene for some time with his take on modern Asian cuisine. Cheyne's and Lucky Bao are an institution in Hout Bay and his other openings, like Mexicola and Himitsu have struck a note with diners from the City Bowl to Camps Bay. We talk about his journey - the ups and downs, the pressures and the joys of the 'game', and ultimately about addiction and reflection. This is a heart-to-heart with a chef I first encountered in 2008 and have admired ever since. www...
2023-11-1436 min
A Table in the Corner15. Simba Choto - Pastry by SimbaPastry chef Simba Choto tried to go out on his own, baking to order from home, before Covid. 2019 was a tough year, but it finished on a high note with a summer season baking at a resort in Bazaruto. He came back from that gig and was plunged into lockdown. Interestingly enough, that's when his business actually took off - with the help of social media, and a community of fans of his baked goods and granola. www.rwm2012.com On Instagram @a_table_inthecorner Cover image sketched by Courtney Cara Lawson All profile portraits...
2023-11-0728 min
A Table in the Corner14. Clayton Bell - Empire CafeClayton Bell is the owner of Empire Cafe in Muizenberg, a bustling little 'local' which is one of my favourite breakfast spots. With a pedigree as the former exec chef at iconic Cape Town restaurants he brings a wealth of hard-won experience to running his own place. We chatted about the shift of pace and scale from running a big corporate restaurant to operating his own 50 seater in a seaside retreat. www.rwm2012.com On Instagram @a_table_inthecorner Cover image sketched by Courtney Cara Lawson All profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise credited...
2023-10-3126 min
A Table in the Corner13. Fernando Badiali - Bare Kofu Co.An old friend from the photography life, Fernando recently opened a coffee business at the Franschhoek Market in the Winelands. Even though he's a freshly minted operator, his precise nature and the journey he embarked on to create Bare Kofu provided an illuminating glimpse of the coffee game and an entertaining chat. www.rwm2012.com On Instagram @a_table_inthecorner Cover image sketched by Courtney Cara Lawson All profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise credited Title music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay
2023-10-2432 min
A Table in the Corner12. Pam McOnie - Cape Fusion ToursPam McOnie is a priceless asset to the food 'scene' in Cape Town. She created the first food tours in Cape Town City, and when restaurants and other businesses were in free fall during lockdown, she started a Facebook group that became a beacon of hope for the eateries and foodies of the region. I love chatting to her at any time and she's the first person I call if I need to know what's potting in the local food scene. Pam is a living archive of the people and places that have shaped local restaurants and food culture, a...
2023-10-1731 min
A Table in the Corner11. Günter Boisits - The DrinkeryGünter Boisits is the co-owner of my favourite bar in Cape Town - The Drinkery. He's a highly skilled and very experienced operator in the hospitality space. We always have lively discussions about the industry. In this interview, I chatted to him about cocktails, sandwiches, service and the many other things that fascinate us both. www.rwm2012.com On Instagram @a_table_inthecorner Cover image sketched by Courtney Cara Lawson All profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise credited Title music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay
2023-10-1134 min
A Table in the Corner10. Brendan & Leigh - The Table at De MeyeBrendon and Leigh Thorncroft are the owner/chef/host team at The Table at De Meye in the Stellenbosch Winelands. I chatted to them on a beautiful spring day about running a set menu restaurant and sourcing as sustainably and locally as volumes will allow. Always such a pleasure to spend time with these two. www.rwm2012.com On Instagram @a_table_inthecorner Cover image sketched by Courtney Cara Lawson All profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise credited Title music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay
2023-10-0832 min
A Table in the Corner09. Phil Myburgh - De Meye Wine FarmPhilip Myburgh is a wine farmer with deep roots in the Stellenbosch region of the Western Cape Winelands. Once, long ago I opened a restaurant under the trees on his beautiful property with my wife. It's been a while, but Phil and I used to have fabulous chats about the business of farming and wine and the necessity of 'sweating your assets' when you're a land-owner. I thought it would be great to chat to him as a precursor to a conversation with Leigh and Brendan Thorncroft who now run The Table at De Meye on his Stellenbosch farm.
2023-10-0330 min
A Table in the Corner08. Emma-Claire Peter - The Wandering FoodistaEmma-Claire peter is both a wanderer and a wonderer in the realm of all things food. We've encountered each other often on our journeys. We first worked together when she was getting into food-styling, and we've crossed paths through magazines and other publications, and when she's been organising food events or curating food collections for retail ranges. Emma-Claire is always doing something interesting with or around food and I caught up with her for a natter about what's happening in her world. www.rwm2012.com On Instagram @a_table_inthecorner Cover image sketched by Courtney...
2023-09-2628 min
A Table in the Corner07. Charmaine Lilje - Chardonnay DeliCharmaine Lilje is the chef-proprietor and all-round amazing person behind the tremendously popular Chardonnay Deli. With buzzing venues in Constantia and Kalk Bay, Charmaine is about to open a third shop on Constantia Uitsig. We chatted about drive and determination, inspiration and being at the right place at the right time. www.rwm2012.com On Instagram @a_table_inthecorner Cover image sketched by Courtney Cara Lawson All profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise credited Title music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay
2023-09-1935 min
A Table in the Corner06. Ryan Cole - Salsify at the RoundhouseFrom Michelin stars to foraging with Chris Erasmus we talk a little history and a lot of cooking with head chef and co-owner Ryan Cole at Salsify restaurant in the historic Roundhouse overlooking Cape Town's Camps Bay. www.rwm2012.com On Instagram @a_table_inthecorner Cover image sketched by Courtney Cara Lawson All profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise credited Title music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay
2023-09-0634 min
A Table in the Corner01. Ivor Jones - Chefs Warehouse Beau ConstantiaA conversation about cooking, growing veggies and running a fabulous Cape Town restaurant with chef and co-owner Ivor Jones. With stunning views, warm service and an ever-changing menu, Chefs Warehouse Beau Constantia is justifiably pumping as one of the Mother City's favourite restaurants.Chefs Warehouse Beau Constantia(Image by Claire Gunn for Chefs Warehouse) www.rwm2012.com On Instagram @a_table_inthecorner Cover image sketched by Courtney Cara Lawson All profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise credited Title music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay
2023-09-0635 min
A Table in the Corner02. Kenneth McClarty - Olympia Café, Kalk BayA conversation about cooking, consistency, flavour and locals with chef and co-owner of the iconic Olympia Café in the seaside village of Kalk Bay near. Kenneth McClarty and his restaurant have been a feature of this picturesque village for over two decades and we chat about life in the village and his thoughts and insights on running a restaurant. www.rwm2012.com On Instagram @a_table_inthecorner Cover image sketched by Courtney Cara Lawson All profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise credited Title music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay
2023-09-0642 min
A Table in the Corner03. Sophia Lindop - Sophia Lindop CooksA natter with a truly inspiring food blogger and cooking instructor who is both a dear friend and a dedicated student of the Mediterranean table. In particular, Sophia teaches Lebanese cooking - she's about to release a video cooking course on this cuisine born of her concern that mothers no longer teach their daughters to cook, so traditions are being lost. We talk about growing up on a farm, what cooking and recipes mean to her and a little about her travels in the Levant and Italy. Sophia Lindop CooksImage supplied www...
2023-09-0631 min
A Table in the Corner04. Nic Charalambos - OuzeriNic Charalambos is the chef-proprietor of the extremely popular Ouzeri restaurant in Cape Town's Wale Street. We talk about his inspiration, where his cooking comes from and about what he sees as the future of this restaurant based on his Cypriot heritage.OuzeriImage supplied www.rwm2012.com On Instagram @a_table_inthecorner Cover image sketched by Courtney Cara Lawson All profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise credited Title music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay
2023-09-0620 min
A Table in the Corner05. Jason Kosmas - Pot Luck ClubA natter at Pot Luck Club with exec chef Jason Kosmas about cooking, recipes, fishing and in-laws. We touch on what's happening to restaurants in Cape Town post-pandemic and touch on how dishes are created in his kitchen. www.rwm2012.com On Instagram @a_table_inthecorner Cover image sketched by Courtney Cara Lawson All profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise credited Title music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay
2023-09-0627 min