A Table in the Corner

At The Kraal Restaurant on Joostenberg Farm, Susan Dehosse is cooking from a place that predates current trends around farm-to-table experiences. In this episode of A Table in the Corner, we talk about how a working farm, a family legacy, and a career shaped in European kitchens come together in a restaurant that feels both grounded and personal.Susan traces her path from early training in Stellenbosch and at Le Quartier Français to the discipline of London’s 3 Michelin starred Waterside Inn, before returning to South Africa to help build restaurants during the early wave of post-1994 growth. Alongside her husband Christophe, she played a role in explosion of Western Cape restaurant culture. At Joostenberg, that experience is filtered through something more instinctive. The Kraal sits on the family farm where her grandmother once cooked simple meals in the post-war years so the family could keep the farm. That thread of practicality and generosity still runs through the food today, but it’s balanced with classical technique and a lighter, more considered approach to structure and flavour.The conversation also moves through the growth of Klein Joostenberg Bistro & Deli, the realities of building a sustainable farm business, and the importance of people in long-term operations. Susan speaks candidly about stepping into her own space at The Kraal, supported by a team that has grown with the business over decades.www.rwm2012.comOn Instagram @a_table_inthecornerCover image sketched by Courtney Cara LawsonAll profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise creditedTitle music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay

In this episode of A Table in the Corner, I chat to PJ Vadas at his Smokehouse & Bakery on Spier Wine Estate. We talk plainly about what it actually costs to keep a restaurant running, and why so many operators are under pressure right now.From refrigeration repair invoices that spiralled to over R100k to the constant recalibration of menus, staffing and pricing, PJ lays out the economics behind the plate. It’s a frank look at an industry where margins are tight, expectations are high, and every decision, from ingredient sourcing to glassware, has a cost attached. We follow his journey, from the fine dining intensity of The Roundhouse to building a large, broader operation at Spier. PJ explains why he moved away from fine diners, how diversification across bakery, retail and casual dining helps stabilise the business, and why one well-run, high-volume restaurant can offer more control than multiple smaller sites.There’s also a frank take on kitchen culture, training and the realities of learning the craft. PJ speaks about time spent in demanding kitchens, the value of discipline, and the difference between pressure that builds skill and environments that simply break people down.What emerges is a practical philosophy: know your numbers, charge what you need to survive, and build a restaurant that fits your life, not the other way around.www.rwm2012.comOn Instagram @a_table_inthecornerCover image sketched by Courtney Cara LawsonAll profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise creditedTitle music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay

In this episode of A Table in the Corner, Russel Wasserfall sits down with chef Adél Hughes and artist-host Liebet Jooste, the couple behind Seebamboes. Their restaurant, tucked above Galjoen on Harrington Street, forms part of the same restaurant family as Belly of the Beast.The conversation explores how Seebamboes operates as a collaboration between kitchen and dining room. Adél cooks with ingredients that arrive from small producers, fishermen and foragers, often shaping dishes around what turns up that day. Liebet, drawing on her background as a visual artist, guides guests through the meal, helping frame the experience and the stories behind the ingredients.Russel traces how the project began with a small takeaway operation in Betty’s Bay before finding a home in Cape Town. Along the way the discussion touches on West Coast foodways, the use of seaweeds and coastal plants, and the realities of cooking with ingredients that are seasonal, unpredictable and deeply tied to place.It’s a conversation about storytelling through food: how a menu becomes a narrative, how chefs and front of house work together to shape the experience, and how a meal can reconnect diners with the landscapes and ingredients that surround the Western Cape coast.Seebamboes will also feature in an upcoming Table for Two episode on the A Table in the Corner YouTube channel. Launching in early May, the new video series sees Russel and co-host Jonathan Warnke visiting some of their favourite Cape Town restaurants, sharing the experience of the meal from two perspectives: one from inside the hospitality industry, and one from the curious diner at the table.www.rwm2012.comOn Instagram @a_table_inthecornerCover image sketched by Courtney Cara LawsonAll profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise creditedTitle music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay

On this episode of A Table in the Corner, Russel sits down with Odette Olivier, head chef of the Harrington Street tasting-menu restaurant Belly of the Beast.Odette talks about how she found her way into professional kitchens, from an early instinct to cook through culinary school and the formative years that followed in hotels and lodge kitchens. She also reflects on the influence of the late chef Ian Bergh of De Grendel Restaurant, whose mentorship helped shape her approach to cooking and to running a kitchen.The conversation then turns to life inside Belly of the Beast, where a frequently changing set menu and an open kitchen create a particular rhythm to service. Odette describes the challenge of cooking a tightly choreographed tasting menu night after night, and how the small team keeps the kitchen calm and focused while working through multiple courses for every table.Russel and Odette also discuss the realities of running a small restaurant in Cape Town today, including the growing problem of no-shows and how they affect independent restaurants operating with limited seats.Finally, Odette shares a glimpse of what’s coming next for the Harrington Street group, which currently includes Belly of the Beast, Galjoen and Seebamboes. Two new restaurants, No Show and Quagga, are set to open in the next season, expanding the group’s presence in the East City Precinct.www.rwm2012.comOn Instagram @a_table_inthecornerCover image sketched by Courtney Cara LawsonAll profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise creditedTitle music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay

On this episode of A Table in the Corner, Russel sits down with Jesper Nilsson, the Swedish-born chef behind Ëlgr, his popular restaurant on Kloof Street.Jesper’s cooking carries the clarity and discipline often associated with Scandinavian kitchens, but it’s firmly rooted in the produce and rhythm of Cape Town. The result is a restaurant that isn’t Nordic transplanted into South Africa, but something shaped by both places: restrained, ingredient-led cooking in a relaxed dining room where regulars gather as easily for a pizza and beer as they do for a date night meal.In the conversation, Jesper traces his journey from chef school in Sweden to training locally at the International Culinary Academy, cooking in Franschhoek and eventually returning from Sweden to open Ëlgr at just 28 years old. He reflects on how his time at Malmö restaurant ‘Bastard’ reshaped his thinking about kitchen culture, leadership and the collaborative structure that now defines his team. Russel and Jesper also talk about the craft behind the menu – from house-made charcuterie and fermentation projects to the unexpectedly beloved pizzas – and about the discipline required to maintain consistency after four consecutive Eat Out Restaurant Awards one-star ratings.It’s a conversation about how a chef’s identity forms: what you carry with you from where you grew up, what you learn along the way, and how those influences settle into a restaurant that reflects both the cook and the city around it.www.rwm2012.comOn Instagram @a_table_inthecornerCover image sketched by Courtney Cara LawsonAll profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise creditedTitle music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay

On this episode of A Table in the Corner, Russel sits down with Ella Rykaart, the front-of-house force behind Rykaarts, the small, atmospheric restaurant she runs with her husband, chef Alex Rykaart, on Longridge Wine Estate.While chefs often take the spotlight, this conversation turns the focus toward the other half of the restaurant equation: hospitality. Ella reflects on her path from studying winemaking to discovering the pull of restaurant life, working under respected restaurateur Neil Grant, learning the realities of kitchens with George Jardine, and later refining her understanding of service and restaurant logistics alongside Christophe and Susan Dehosse.The conversation explores what front-of-house leadership really means: building teams, managing expectations, creating a relaxed dining environment, and balancing the fine line between attentive service and simply allowing guests to enjoy themselves. Ella also speaks candidly about changing perspectives on hospitality, authenticity in restaurant culture, and why not every dining experience needs a carefully narrated story.Set against the sweeping vineyard views of Longridge, this episode looks at the quieter craft of running service, and the role hospitality and setting play in shaping the experience of a restaurant.www.rwm2012.comOn Instagram @a_table_inthecornerCover image sketched by Courtney Cara LawsonAll profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise creditedTitle music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay

On this episode of A Table in the Corner, Russel sits down with Giles Edwards, a chef returning to the pass after time away, now working in collaboration with Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen at Le Bistrot de JAN. It’s a conversation about coming back to the kitchen on different terms, with more clarity about what matters and what doesn’t. Giles first came onto the city’s radar with La Tête, a restaurant that built a loyal following through a deeply considered approach to sourcing, sustainability and unfussy, exacting cooking. Before that came a formative decade in London, including time at St. John under Fergus Henderson, where ideas around whole-animal cooking and restraint took root.The conversation traces that arc. The early pull of St. John, the grind and discipline of London, the creation and eventual closure of La Tête, and the decision to step away from kitchens altogether. It also explores what it means to return, this time with boundaries, working within someone else’s space while holding onto a clear sense of self.This is a conversation about simplicity, sustainability and the long view. About learning, stepping back, and choosing how to come back.www.rwm2012.comOn Instagram @a_table_inthecornerCover image sketched by Courtney Cara LawsonAll profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise creditedTitle music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay

In this episode of A Table in the Corner, Russel sits down with Brett Michielin, the operator behind Mozambik, one of Southern Africa’s most recognisable casual dining brands. What began as a forty-seat restaurant in Ballito, KZN has grown into more than forty five outlets across the SADEC region. But the conversation starts with something far smaller: a twist of newspaper filled with pan-roasted peanuts placed on the table when guests arrive.Brett traces the origins of Mozambik back to the tavernas and beach bars of coastal Mozambique and the Portuguese-influenced restaurant culture of Durban. From the beginning, he explains, the idea was simple: food would take the brand part of the way, but atmosphere, generosity and service would carry it the rest.The discussion moves through the early years of the Ballito restaurant, the unlikely partnership that launched the brand, and the mechanics of turning a loose beachside concept into a scalable franchise operation. Brett speaks candidly about the realities of growth, from training staff and building supply chains to maintaining consistency across multiple countries.Along the way we talk about the role hospitality plays in social mobility, illustrated through the story of a bartender who rose through the company to run operations in Zimbabwe, and the broader challenges facing independent restaurants in a market increasingly shaped by larger groups.This is a practical, wide ranging conversation about scale, culture and the long game of building restaurants, told by an operator who still chases the rush that comes when the doors open and service begins.www.rwm2012.comOn Instagram @a_table_inthecornerCover image sketched by Courtney Cara LawsonAll profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise creditedTitle music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay

In this episode of A Table in the Corner, Russel sits down with Korean-born chef Sepial Shim, whose quiet, wandering path through Cape Town’s food world has taken her from cooking school to markets, pop ups and now a tiny sixteen seat restaurant in Woodstock called 'In the Meantime'.She reflects on arriving in South Africa more than two decades ago and training as an urban designer, only to discover that cooking offered a different way of expressing meaning without words. What followed was an unconventional journey: studying at Silwood alongside her son, opening a small restaurant in Salt River, building a cult following for Korean fried chicken at the Oranjezicht market, and experimenting with fermentation as both craft and philosophy.The conversation moves between those phases and the thinking behind Sepial’s latest project: a deliberately small restaurant where she cooks each dish herself and serves guests directly. We talk about the tension between creativity and business, the financial cost of pursuing fermentation as a passion project, and the decision to trade scale for focus in the limited years she still plans to cook professionally.Along the way Shim reflects on Korean food traditions, Cape Town’s evolving dining culture and the quiet satisfaction of watching diners recognise the care behind something as subtle as a clear beef short-rib broth.This is a thoughtful, candid conversation about wandering, learning and choosing to cook in a way that makes sense for one’s life, told by a chef who understands that sometimes the most meaningful work happens in small rooms. www.rwm2012.comOn Instagram @a_table_inthecornerCover image sketched by Courtney Cara LawsonAll profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise creditedTitle music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay

In this episode of A Table in the Corner, Russel sits down with Aidan Zieff, head chef of Ouzeri, one of Cape Town’s most quietly influential restaurants. Aidan reflects on a fast-moving early career that took him from local fine dining kitchens through Copenhagen stages at 108 and Noma, before returning home with a sharpened sense of discipline, flavour and restraint.The conversation traces his path from formal, highly structured kitchens into a looser, more generous style of cooking that still demands precision. We talk about what Aidan carried back from Scandinavia, how that experience recalibrated his approach to simplicity, and why Ouzeri’s food works not because it is casual, but because it is exact where it matters. He explains the balance between tradition and instinct, how flavours are tested and rejected without sentiment, and why some dishes only work when they look imperfect.We also discuss creative freedom, the pressure of cooking for chefs, and the challenge of running a small brigade while maintaining consistency in a room that never really empties. This is a candid conversation about taste, confidence and letting go of formality without losing standards, told by a chef who understands that generosity on the plate is usually the result of serious discipline behind the scenes.Learn more about Ouzeri hereEvery booking is a first impression. Make a good one with NovelMessage me here with comments or guest suggestions.Treat yourself - order direct from Zuney Wagyuwww.rwm2012.comOn Instagram @a_table_inthecornerCover image sketched by Courtney Cara LawsonAll profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise creditedTitle music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay

In this episode of A Table in the Corner, Russel sits down with Andrew Kai, chef and co-founder behind Tomson, Max Bagels and One Park, to talk about building small, culture-driven food businesses in a city increasingly dominated by scale.Andrew reflects on his early years in London kitchens, the discipline of classical brigade systems, and the dislocation of returning home to a very different restaurant landscape. The conversation moves through markets, pop ups and tight spaces before landing on Tomson, a 27 square metre Hong Kong style Cantonese shop that feels both deeply personal and entirely of the moment.We talk about cooking from heritage rather than trend, the difference between translation and dilution when presenting so called ethnic food, and why rice, greens and a properly roasted duck can say more than a tasting menu. Andrew speaks about sourcing Chinese ingredients in South Africa, resisting the pressure to soften flavours for comfort, and creating rooms that feel human rather than staged. This is a grounded, honest discussion about identity, independence and keeping restaurants small enough to matter, told by an operator who understands that community, not capital, is what ultimately sustains a room.Read what food writer Richard Holmes has to say in his Time Out review of Tomson hereEvery booking is a first impression. Make a good one with NovelMessage me here with comments or guest suggestions.Treat yourself - order direct from Zuney Wagyuwww.rwm2012.comOn Instagram @a_table_inthecornerCover image sketched by Courtney Cara LawsonAll profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise creditedTitle music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay

In this Special Thursday episode of A Table in the Corner, Russel sits down with brother and sister team Danillo and Chiara Turilli, the operators behind Lello’s Deli, to talk about inheritance, identity and building something deeply personal in a city that is moving as quickly as Cape Town is right now.Raised within a family restaurant business run by their father, the Turillis describe themselves as restaurant babies who tried, unsuccessfully, to escape hospitality. Danillo left for fashion photography in Hamburg. Chiara moved into food styling and corporate work. Yet both found themselves drawn back to the rhythms of service, family recipes and the particular weight of Italian food culture.The conversation traces the evolution from Scarpetta, their father’s final and most personal restaurant, to Lello’s original De Waterkant deli and now its move to Sea Point. We talk about counter service in a culture that resists it, charging properly for ingredients whose price reflects their authenticity, and refusing to dilute tradition for comfort. Mortadella is the real thing. Amatriciana is made with guanciale. Coffee is served the Italian way.They speak candidly about legacy, grief and closing their father’s restaurant after his passing, choosing instead to carry forward the parts that mattered to them. There is no master plan here, only instinct shaped by upbringing: seasonal tomatoes jarred for winter, pizza al taglio sold by weight, pasta made the way their family remembers it.This is a conversation about diaspora, stubbornness and the responsibility of doing things properly, told by two operators who understand that authenticity is not a marketing position but a lived inheritance.Thumbnail image by Soh BangContact me with thoughts or suggestions for the show on [email protected] Instagram @a_table_inthecornerCover image sketched by Courtney Cara LawsonAll profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise creditedTitle music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay

In 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 thinking, waste, seasonality and responsibility. Travis talks about breaking down formality without lowering standards, working with whole animals and vegetables alike, and designing food that reflects abundance rather than excess.We also explore the realities of running a restaurant across breakfast, lunch and dinner, collaborating with farming teams, and feeding produce back into the wider restaurant group. This is a thoughtful, grounded discussion about provenance, process and pace, told by a chef who understands that the future of cooking is inseparable from how the land beneath it is treated.Learn more about Arum at Boschendal hereGet a fair price with HeadsUpEvery booking is a first impression. Make a good one with NovelMessage me here with comments or guest suggestions.Treat yourself - order direct from Zuney Wagyuwww.rwm2012.comOn Instagram @a_table_inthecornerCover image sketched by Courtney Cara LawsonAll profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise creditedTitle music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay

In 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 two Tashas restaurants are ever identical. We talk about comfort as a design principle, classics as an anchor, and the discipline required to keep food, service and atmosphere aligned at volume. She reflects on rolling up her sleeves during service, leading from inside the business, and why people - not concepts - determine whether restaurants succeed or fail.The discussion also explores growth beyond the flagship brand, from Café Sophie and Arlecchino to mentoring younger operators, building teams across regions and investing in training as a long-term strategy. This is a clear-eyed, practical conversation about consistency, scale and care, told by an operator who understands that hospitality is sustained not by ideas alone, but by the people trusted to execute them every day.Get a fair price with HeadsUpEvery booking is a first impression. Make a good one with NovelMessage me here with comments or guest suggestions.Treat yourself - order direct from Zuney WagyuThumbnail image suppliedwww.rwm2012.comOn Instagram @a_table_inthecornerCover image sketched by Courtney Cara LawsonAll profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise creditedTitle music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay

In 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 menu and one sitting. Julia explains the thinking behind cooking for a roomful of strangers at once, pairing food to wine, sourcing directly from farmers and growers, and designing a restaurant that values connection, presence and intention over scale.We also talk about no shows, prepaid bookings, shared gratuities and building a small, multi-skilled team without front and back of house divisions. This is an honest, thoughtful discussion about restraint, sustainability and why eating together at a table still matters, told by a chef who has chosen clarity of purpose over expansion.You can book for Reverie Social hereGet a fair price with HeadsUpEvery booking is a first impression. Make a good one with NovelMessage me here with comments or guest suggestions.Treat yourself - order direct from Zuney Wagyuwww.rwm2012.comOn Instagram @a_table_inthecornerCover image sketched by Courtney Cara LawsonAll profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise creditedTitle music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay

In 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 built on flavour, consistency and trust. They unpack the thinking behind bao as a format, ingredient sourcing, cost control and portioning, and how a simple menu can still demand precision night after night.The discussion also moves into growth, parenthood and sustainability, from scaling up to the Green Point space to building a long standing team and stepping back from the floor without losing standards. This is a grounded, honest conversation about running a restaurant for the long haul, balancing ambition with family life, and why some rooms earn loyalty by doing a few things properly rather than everything at once.You can view the Bao Down menu hereGet a fair price with HeadsUpEvery booking is a first impression. Make a good one with NovelMessage me here with comments or guest suggestions.Treat yourself - order direct from Zuney WagyuThumbnail image supplied by the restaurant. www.rwm2012.comOn Instagram @a_table_inthecornerCover image sketched by Courtney Cara LawsonAll profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise creditedTitle music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay

In 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 absorbed from Basson’s way of working: discipline over decoration, technique over theatre, and the confidence to change a dish mid service if it makes sense. We talk about building restaurants as businesses, growing sideways through bakeries, farm shops and events, and why Toevlug was designed as a place people can return to often rather than conquer once.This is a grounded discussion about fundamentals, mentorship and staying in your lane, told by a chef who understands that good food, properly cooked, is still the point.For more on the Bertus Basson group of restaurants, click hereEvery booking is a first impression. Make a good one with NovelMessage me here with comments or guest suggestions.Treat yourself - order direct from Zuney Wagyuwww.rwm2012.comOn Instagram @a_table_inthecornerCover image sketched by Courtney Cara LawsonAll profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise creditedTitle music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay

In 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 ingredients and boundary-pushing drink pairings. This is a conversation about risk, trust, collaboration and why dining can be as much about music, conversation and surprise as it is about food. A raw, energetic look at how Cape Town’s restaurant culture continues to evolve.For more on The Wiggle Room, click hereEvery booking is a first impression. Make a good one with NovelMessage me here with comments or guest suggestions.Treat yourself - order direct from Zuney Wagyuwww.rwm2012.comOn Instagram @a_table_inthecornerCover image sketched by Courtney Cara LawsonAll profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise creditedTitle music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay

In 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 what it means to cook with intention while shaping one of the city’s most refined dining rooms.For more on Salon, click hereEvery booking is a first impression. Make a good one with NovelMessage me here with comments or guest suggestions.Treat yourself - order direct from Zuney Wagyuwww.rwm2012.comOn Instagram @a_table_inthecornerCover image sketched by Courtney Cara LawsonAll profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise creditedTitle music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay

In 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 explores Mertia’s evolving tasting menu, technical cooking, the challenge of simplicity, and what it means to build systems, teams and confidence in a small, highly focused restaurant. An honest, thoughtful discussion about ambition, self doubt, creativity and the realities of modern chef life in South Africa.For more on Mertia, click hereEvery booking is a first impression. Make a good one with NovelMessage me here with comments or guest suggestions.Treat yourself - order direct from Zuney WagyuGet a fair price with HeadsUpChat to Mischa or Sash of Socially Unacceptable here www.rwm2012.comOn Instagram @a_table_inthecornerCover image sketched by Courtney Cara LawsonAll profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise creditedTitle music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay

In this episode of A Table in the Corner, I sat down with John van Zyl, chef and co owner of Melting Pot, one of Cape Town’s most talked about contemporary restaurants. John reflects on his unconventional journey into food, from music and travel to working closely with Liam Tomlin, and how those years shaped his disciplined, process-driven approach to cooking. The conversation traces the evolution of Melting Pot from pop up dinners to permanent restaurants, exploring the freedom and pressure of cooking across cultures, the realities of running a growing team, and the tension between creativity and consistency. John speaks candidly about street food, technique, slow cooking, menu fatigue, and what it really takes to build a restaurant that feels alive, generous and grounded in experience. A rich, honest look at modern Cape Town cooking through the lens of one of its most curious and interesting chefs.For more on Melting Pot, click hereEvery booking is a first impression. Make a good one with NovelMessage me here with comments or guest suggestions.Treat yourself - order direct from Zuney WagyuGet a fair price with HeadsUpChat to Mischa or Sash of Socially Unacceptable here www.rwm2012.comOn Instagram @a_table_inthecornerCover image sketched by Courtney Cara LawsonAll profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise creditedTitle music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay

In 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 menu that is as nourishing as it is delicious. This is a powerful conversation about resilience, seasonal cooking, youthful ambition and what it really takes to open a restaurant on your own terms.More about MelfortEvery booking is a first impression. Make a good one with Novel Message me here with comments or guest suggestions. Treat yourself - order direct from Zuney Wagyu Get a fair price with HeadsUpChat to Mischa or Sash of Socially Unacceptable here www.rwm2012.comOn Instagram @a_table_inthecornerCover image sketched by Courtney Cara LawsonAll profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise creditedTitle music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay

In 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 most important training kitchens. The conversation explores how menus are developed, how teams are built from the ground up, and the dishes that guests refuse to let leave the menu. A grounded, humbling look at discipline, mentorship, resilience and what it really takes to grow inside a world class restaurant group.For more on TTK Fledgelings, click hereEvery booking is a first impression. Make a good one with Novel the contemporary restaurant booking system.Message me here with comments or guest suggestions.Treat yourself - order direct from Zuney WagyuGet a fair price with HeadsUpChat to Mischa or Sash of Socially Unacceptable here www.rwm2012.comOn Instagram @a_table_inthecornerCover image sketched by Courtney Cara LawsonAll profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise creditedTitle music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay

In this episode of A Table in the Corner, we step into the golden world of Veuve Clicquot’s Emotions of the Sun, the global photographic exhibition created with the legendary Magnum Photos agency, now shining in Cape Town at Youngblood Gallery on Bree Street.My guest is Seth Shezi, Celebrity MasterChef winner, global traveller and lifestyle tastemaker, who curated the Sun on Your Plate Café for the exhibition. Inspired by light, optimism and the emotional power of the sun, Seth created a Cape Town centred menu perfectly paired with Veuve Clicquot’s cuvées, including the iconic Yellow Label.We talk about his journey into cooking, his long relationship with Veuve Clicquot, how Magnum’s photographers shaped his creative thinking, and how Cape Town’s light, colour and energy influenced the dishes he created for this unique summer experience. Seth also shares insights into South Africa’s evolving food identity, the chefs exciting him right now, and how he balances a global lifestyle with his South African roots.The Emotions of the Sun exhibition runs from 4 to 21 December at Youngblood Gallery, 70 Bree Street, Cape Town. Tickets include a glass of Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label and access to the exhibition, the Sun on Your Plate Café and the gifting boutique.Book via howler.co.za and soak up the sun.Book at to experience Emotions of the Sun: https://www.howler.co.zaEvery booking is a first impression. Make a good one with Novel Message me here with comments or guest suggestions. Treat yourself - order direct from Zuney Wagyu Get a fair price with HeadsUpChat to Mischa or Sash of Socially Unacceptable here www.rwm2012.comOn Instagram @a_table_inthecornerCover image sketched by Courtney Cara LawsonAll profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise creditedTitle music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay

Join me at my table in the corner for this incredible conversation with chef Anouchka Horn, co-owner of Cape Town’s acclaimed restaurants Belly of the Beast and Galjoen. In this episode, Anouchka shares her journey from her grandmother’s traditional Afrikaans kitchen to becoming a leading voice in ingredient-driven, low-waste South African dining.We talk about her early culinary influences, training at the ICA, formative years working under Michael Broughton, and the creation of two of Cape Town’s most compelling restaurants. We talk sustainable seafood, whole-beast cooking, creative menu development, and the philosophy behind Galjoen - named after South Africa’s national fish and rooted in respect for the ocean.If you care about South African cuisine, sustainable cooking, restaurant culture, or simply love a good food story, this episode is packed with insights, warmth, and inspiration.Listen, like, comment and subscribe for more deep-dive conversations with the people shaping South African food culture.For more on Galjoen, click hereEvery booking is a first impression. Make a good one with NovelMessage me here with comments or guest suggestions.Treat yourself - order direct from Zuney WagyuGet a fair price with HeadsUpChat to Mischa or Sash of Socially Unacceptable here www.rwm2012.comOn Instagram @a_table_inthecornerCover image sketched by Courtney Cara LawsonAll profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise creditedTitle music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay

Join us at A Table in the Corner as we chat with Chef Jess Van Dyk, the creative force behind Post & Pepper in Stellenbosch. From growing up in a small town with a love of food, to training at top kitchens, and now running her own restaurant, Jess shares her journey in the culinary world.Discover the stories behind signature dishes like pork lollipops, her approach to shared plates, and how she keeps creativity and sustainability at the heart of her kitchen. Find out where Jess eats off-duty, her favorite comfort foods, and the realities of running a restaurant in Stellenbosch.Whether you’re a foodie, aspiring chef, or restaurant lover, this episode is packed with insights and stories: a conversation right from the heart of the kitchen. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and sit down at a table at the corner with us!For more on Post & Pepper, click hereMessage me here with comments or guest suggestions.Treat yourself - order direct from Zuney WagyuGet a fair price with HeadsUpChat to Mischa or Sash of Socially Unacceptable here www.rwm2012.comOn Instagram @a_table_inthecornerCover image sketched by Courtney Cara LawsonAll profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise creditedTitle music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay

The best meal I've eaten in Cape Town recently whas hands-down the one I enjoyed with my wife at Vue Shortmarket. With Vusi Ndlovu in the kitchen and Absie Pantshwa out front, this is the exceptional product of a pair of fascinating minds who take diners on a journey into African ingredients and cooking techniques with a refinement and playfulness that is delightful. Chatting with Vusi is always hilarious. I doubt that I've laughed as much with any other guest.For more on Vue Shortmarket, click hereMessage me here with comments or guest suggestions.Treat yourself - order direct from Zuney WagyuGet a fair price with HeadsUpChat to Mischa or Sash of Socially Unacceptable here Slow down and chill out at 44 Stanleywww.rwm2012.comOn Instagram @a_table_inthecornerCover image sketched by Courtney Cara LawsonAll profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise creditedTitle music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay

Until very recently, Belly of the Beast was my favourite restaurant I'd never eaten in. That sad situation has been remedied and lunch at this Harrington Street legend was everything I'd imagined. I sat down for Episode 02 of the second season of A Table in the Corner to chat to Neil Swart who created Belly with chef and co-owner Anouchka Horn. I'll chat to Anouchka in an upcoming show about the duo's second venue, Galjoen.For more on Belly of the Beast, click hereMessage me here with comments or guest suggestions.Treat yourself - order direct from Zuney WagyuGet a fair price with HeadsUpChat to Mischa or Sash of Socially Unacceptable here Slow down and chill out at 44 Stanleywww.rwm2012.comOn Instagram @a_table_inthecornerCover image sketched by Courtney Cara LawsonAll profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise creditedTitle music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay

In Season 02 of A Table in the Corner, we talk to the chefs we love about the restaurants or the menus they create. In the first episode of the new season Chef Marco Cardoso of De Eetkamer in Stellenbosch has to stare unblinking into the spotlight as I grill him with a bunch of questions about his background as a chef, his vision for De Eetkamer and his favourite comfort food.Message me here with comments or guest suggestions.Treat yourself - order direct from Zuney WagyuGet a fair price with HeadsUpChat to Mischa or Sash of Socially Unacceptable here Slow down and chill out at 44 StanleyTop Restaurants in Cape Town according to the Inside Guide Surveywww.rwm2012.comOn Instagram @a_table_inthecornerCover image sketched by Courtney Cara LawsonAll profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise creditedTitle music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay

That's it for the first chapter of A Table in the Corner. Join me next Tuesday for Season 2 and much more chef- and restaurant-focused content.Message me here with comments or guest suggestions.Treat yourself - order direct from Zuney WagyuGet a fair price with HeadsUpTop Restaurants in Cape Town according to the Inside Guide Survey www.rwm2012.comOn Instagram @a_table_inthecornerCover image sketched by Courtney Cara LawsonAll profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise creditedTitle music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay

While we work on the early episodes of Season Two, we're going to issue some re-edited and remastered episodes from the archives of Season One. Enjoy this chat with one of the legends of the local food scene, Franck Dangereaux.Visit the 44 Stanley website for more information on this cool precinct.44 Stanley is in Instagram here.Message me here with comments or guest suggestions.Treat yourself - order direct from Zuney WagyuGet a fair price with HeadsUpTop Restaurants in Cape Town according to the Inside Guide Surveywww.rwm2012.comOn Instagram @a_table_inthecornerCover image sketched by Courtney Cara LawsonAll profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise creditedTitle music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay

As if proof were needed that strong narratives sell brands, my favourite local coffee brand, Bean There, has a fabulous back-story. We used their coffee in our restaurants and I was a regular in their Wale Street shop before the closed it to concentrate on the wholesale aspect of their business. I sat down for a great chat with Jono Robinson, the founder and drive behind this excellent brand to find out more about how he started and how it's going.Visit the 44 Stanley website for more information on the precinct.44 Stanley is in Instagram here.Message me here with comments or guest suggestions.Treat yourself - order direct from Zuney WagyuGet a fair price with HeadsUpTop Restaurants in Cape Town according to the Inside Guide Surveywww.rwm2012.comOn Instagram @a_table_inthecornerCover image sketched by Courtney Cara LawsonAll profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise creditedTitle music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay

I'm back with Justin Bonello to chat about his urban farming project, Neighbourhood Farm in Fish Hoek. One episode just couldn't pack in all the stuff this fascinating human is doing, and I'm not sure I've managed in two. We spoke about the importance of connection kids to nature and the source of their food, the challenges of keeping an urban farming project running and the harrowing thought that although we idealise the village life, we've completely forgotten how to live as a community in a village. Justin is a really engaging guest with a lot of insights that really altered my thinking on some issues.Message me here with comments or guest suggestions.Treat yourself - order direct from Zuney WagyuGet a fair price with HeadsUpTop Restaurants in Cape Town according to the Inside Guide Surveywww.rwm2012.comOn Instagram @a_table_inthecornerCover image sketched by Courtney Cara LawsonAll profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise creditedTitle music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay

In this episode of A Table in the Corner, I chat to Dale Herbst — the creative force behind That Food Guy. A content creator and brand marketer with a deep love for food culture, Dale recently traded Johannesburg for Cape Town, drawn by our rich and diverse culinary scene. He’s now collaborating with local food and hospitality brands to craft stories and creative campaigns that celebrate their flavour bth here and abroad.www.rwm2012.comOn Instagram @a_table_inthecornerCover image sketched by Courtney Cara LawsonAll profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise creditedTitle music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay

Fresh from a month's residency at Clarke's in Bree Street, Yoraya Nydoo of Not Sad Food Co. sat down with me to talk about the experience. We chatted about whether she and partner Claudia Alberti are ready for a bricks-and-mortar restaurant having pushed that boat out. It's a complicated answer and led to some interesting lines of discussion.Message me here with comments or guest suggestions.Treat yourself - order direct from Zuney WagyuGet a fair price with HeadsUpTop Restaurants in Cape Town according to the Inside Guide Survey www.rwm2012.comOn Instagram @a_table_inthecornerCover image sketched by Courtney Cara LawsonAll profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise creditedTitle music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay

Justin Bonello was creating great food shows for TV back when Jamie Oliver was just starting to come to our attention. Some of my favourite local cookbooks are the product of his creative vision, and he is almost single-handedly responsible for dragging braais out or our back yards and into the limelight with the incredibly popular Ultimate Braai Master series. We found some time for a chat about the roots of his creative impulse and where he is now, with his urban farming project, Neighbourhood Farm in Fish Hoek.Message me here with comments or guest suggestions.Treat yourself - order direct from Zuney WagyuGet a fair price with HeadsUpTop Restaurants in Cape Town according to the Inside Guide Survey www.rwm2012.comOn Instagram @a_table_inthecornerCover image sketched by Courtney Cara LawsonAll profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise creditedTitle music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay

Charné van Heerden was the life and soul of House of Machines, and there was probably a collective "Booooo!" when people heard she was moving on after six years behind the bar. Lucky for the crew, she only moved across the road, and opened her own very chilled, late-night cocktail lounge. HIBALL serves a range of cleverly-wrought cocktails in high ball glasses, along with flavoursome and comforting risottos. The idea is that it's not too raucous. You can linger over your drink and natter the night away, with a nourishing bowl to fill you up and the end of a night's 'gezelligheit'. We chatted about the joys and the challenges of opening your own shop - lessons learned and moves never-to-be-repeated.Check out HIBALL hereMessage me here with comments or guest suggestions.Treat yourself - order direct from Zuney WagyuGet a fair price with HeadsUpTop Restaurants in Cape Town according to the Inside Guide Survey www.rwm2012.comOn Instagram @a_table_inthecornerCover image sketched by Courtney Cara LawsonAll profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise creditedTitle music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay

Luke Dale-Roberts and Jason Kosmas got back from setting up their London pop-up of Pot Luck Club in mid-August. It's running at the iconic Waldorf Hilton Hotel until the end of November 2025, with an option to extend if chefs and hotel agree. It's too early for any serious reviews to give us an idea of how the concept has been welcomed, but the two chefs loved doing it and working with a local team in Aldwych. I was very chuffed that they agreed to sit down and chat to me in the recently refurbished Cape Town home of PLC at the Biscuit Mill.Here's a link to their London pop-up Message me here with comments or guest suggestions.Treat yourself - order direct from Zuney WagyuGet a fair price with HeadsUpTop Restaurants in Cape Town according to the Inside Guide Survey www.rwm2012.comOn Instagram @a_table_inthecornerCover image sketched by Courtney Cara LawsonAll profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise creditedTitle music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay

Ashley Moss has worked with chef Peter Tempelhoff since he started his cooking journey at The Greenhouse. They’ve since partnered in opening a number of shops including FYN and Ramenhead.  I spoke to him about the journey, his inspiration and the drive to create.Message me here with comments or guest suggestions.Treat yourself - order direct from Zuney WagyuGet a fair price with HeadsUpwww.rwm2012.comOn Instagram @a_table_inthecornerCover image sketched by Courtney Cara LawsonAll profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise creditedTitle music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay

Kurt Ackermann is the CEO of the Urban Food and Farming Trust which, among many other things, organises the annual Food Indaba in Cape Town. I sat down with him in the courtyard at Honest Chocolate in Wale Street to talk about the outcomes of Food Indaba 2025 and to learn more about what his organisation does. There's material for a dozen episodes here, but we tried to colour inside the lines. Perhaps there's meat for another long chat in the future.Message me here with comments or guest suggestions.Treat yourself - order direct from Zuney WagyuGet a fair price with HeadsUpTop Restaurants in Cape Town according to the Inside Guide Survey www.rwm2012.comOn Instagram @a_table_inthecornerCover image sketched by Courtney Cara LawsonAll profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise creditedTitle music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay

In this episode, I sat down with Justine Drake to explore her impressive career and dive into the evolving landscape of food media. From storytelling to trends and being a judge on SA Masterchef, we discuss how the industry is shifting and what it means for food lovers everywhere. Justine booked me for one of the first food shoots I landed when I first moved to Cape Town in 2005, so we've known each other a long time. It was fantastic catching up with her, and learning more from someone who is something of a North star for local food publishing.Justine on InstagramMessage me here with comments or guest suggestions.Treat yourself - order direct from Zuney WagyuGet a fair price with HeadsUpwww.rwm2012.comOn Instagram @a_table_inthecornerCover image sketched by Courtney Cara LawsonAll profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise creditedTitle music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay

Gozney Ovens are things of rare and wondrous beauty. I love retained-heat ovens. In fact I'm a little obsessed, having built two brick arch ovens and installed a prefabricated dome at my Karoo pizza spot. I've got notebooks full of doodles with designs of ovens base on 44-gallon drums. Although I read Kiko Denzer's seminal book 'Build Your Own Clay Oven' from cover to cover several times - I never had the space or time to actually construct one. When, one day a post about Gozney popped up in my Insta feed, I was immediately besotted. I tracked down the local agent and discovered an interesting back-story to the granting of an agency for Gozney to a South African distributor. With a background in building surf and consumer electronics brands, Dustin Botha of the LUKS Group started bringing Traeger pellet grills into the country from the US a while back. I've seen them around, but until I started researching this show, hadn't clicked how versatile and next-gen they actually are. This turned out to be a fascinating chat. It's worth going onto the gozney.co.za site to gaze in wonder at their ovens.Message me here with comments or guest suggestions.Treat yourself - order direct from Zuney WagyuGet a fair price with HeadsUpwww.rwm2012.comOn Instagram @a_table_inthecornerCover image sketched by Courtney Cara LawsonAll profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise creditedTitle music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay

Shaun Scrooby is a fantastic oke. I enjoyed an exceptional lunch at his restaurant, Vuur, on Remhoogte Wine Estate and saw a truly innovative and engaged chef at work. Then we sat down for a chat which could have gone on for days. He's a kind of Have-a-go-Joe in the best possible way. Curious about everything related to his craft and not at all nervous to try new things, the experience Shaun offers guests is truly immersive. It's proper open fire cooking in a communal space that is at once familiar and yet something you've never experienced in an eatery. Message me here with comments or guest suggestions.Treat yourself - order direct from Zuney WagyuGet a fair price with HeadsUpwww.rwm2012.comOn Instagram @a_table_inthecornerCover image sketched by Courtney Cara LawsonAll profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise creditedTitle music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay

Sue Baker is the eternal 'smous'. Starting out by sourcing and selling exceptional oysters to the top local restaurants back in 1992, Sue built Wild Peacock. Today it is a huge provisioner to the restaurant trade, with seafood, cheese and specialist patisserie and deli items available for local and international producers. Wild Peacock was a supplier of seafood, quail, porcini and a couple of other specialist specialist ingredients back when we opened The Table at de Meye and the service was always top-drawer. I caught up with Sue for a chat about the very cool business she ran and has handed over to her very capable kids to run.Wild Peacock onlineHeadsUp - get a fair priceZuney Wagyu - delicious deliveredGet in touch with A Table in the Cornerwww.rwm2012.comOn Instagram @a_table_inthecornerCover image sketched by Courtney Cara LawsonAll profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise creditedTitle music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay

HeadsUp Systems has created a powerful resource for restaurants. Specifically aimed at owner-run operations, it can also benefit groups of restaurants. Their main product is essentially a massive AI-managed spreadsheet that assembles and compares the prices of goods and ingredients across hundreds of suppliers. This means small (and large) operators have better information available to negotiate or navigate better prices for their restaurants. I sat down with Sven - who is a great supporter of the show - to find out more about the product and the thinking behind his creation.www.rwm2012.comOn Instagram @a_table_inthecornerCover image sketched by Courtney Cara LawsonAll profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise creditedTitle music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay

At a recent media event to promote the Seven Colours Sunday lunches at Marble, Cape Town, I was seated opposite the vivacious and interesting influencer, Patricia Blacc. As a member of a team that was around for the first lunar landing, and once had to hire a projector to watch movies in the comfort of my home, watching her work was fascinating to me. Seeing the polished and very snazzy results of her work on various platforms after the lunch was, frankly, bewildering. While I'm aware of the massive role influencers now play in promoting anything from cars to cuisine, I thought it would make sense to invite Patricia onto the show. It is worth noting that Patricia Blacc is the public persona of the very smart, well-travelled and foodie Reneilwe Sibulela. It was a very enlightening conversation.Get a Fair Price with HeadsUpZuney Wagyu onlineReach out to me through the RWM website with comments and suggestionswww.rwm2012.comOn Instagram @a_table_inthecornerCover image sketched by Courtney Cara LawsonAll profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise creditedTitle music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay

I got to know Rudi Liebenberg when I worked as a photographer and spent many hours shooting in his kitchen at the Mount Nelson. His approach to cooking and mentoring the chefs on his brigade, constantly pushing them to do better and learn new things, has launched many careers in the industry. I caught up with him for a chat when he'd just come back from a couple of years abroad, running hotel kitchens in Ireland and then the Carribean. He was between hotels, on his way to lead the kitchen at the Westcliff in Johannesburg.(Correction: During our chat, Rudi mentioned Dan Barber and I erroneously referred to him as the chef from French Laundry, but he is the celebrated chef of Blue Hill at Stone Barns and author of the seminal 'The Third Plate'.)Get a fair price with HeadsUpwww.rwm2012.comOn Instagram @a_table_inthecornerCover image sketched by Courtney Cara LawsonAll profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise creditedTitle music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay

There's a trigger warning on this one for vegetarians or vegans. We do discuss the processing of livestock into meat products. I wanted to delve deeper into the family farming operations that produced the Zuney Wagyu brand, so I spoke to Devin Wells son of eastern Cape beef farmer Denys Wells. Devin runs the processing and distribution side of the operation - started with lifelong friend Henning Klopper - that processes and distributes the Wagyu beef produced on their respective fathers' farms in the Zuney Valley. While Henk and Denys do agriculture, their sons are building the Zuney  brand, most notably through the Zuney Burger spot, but also through a busy online store that delivers anywhere in the country.Zuney Wagyu online storeHeadsUp - get a fair pricewww.rwm2012.comOn Instagram @a_table_inthecornerCover image sketched by Courtney Cara LawsonAll profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise creditedTitle music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay

Chef Melinda Wiggins is the Director of Operations & Culinary Arts at Infinity Culinary Training a training facility that takes unskilled people - literally off the streets - and gives them basic kitchen skills and the chance of a job in a professional kitchen. ICT provides a path out of poverty for people who might otherwise have no hope of ever finding employment. It's a short course that covers basic cooking skills and essential life skills and then places students as interns in their first kitchen job - the rest is up to them. I've been banging on forever about the need to train young job-seekers in the skills they need to staff restaurant kitchens here and abroad. The fees for professional cooking courses are prohibitive for people from working class or impoverished backgrounds, and yet this is a trade that can change their lives. When I heard about ICT, I was immediately curious and approached Melinda to request an interview.  Woolworths South Africa is their exclusive and dedicated food sponsor, and they have a slew of donors including the actor, Denzel Washington. This was a really uplifting conversation with someone who's doing something exceptional for people and for the food industry. HeadsUp - Get a Fair PriceZuney Burger - The Smash Burger of Exceptional Tastewww.rwm2012.comOn Instagram @a_table_inthecornerCover image sketched by Courtney Cara LawsonAll profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise creditedTitle music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay

I first met Dion Vengatass in Chef Rudi Liebenberg's kitchen at the Mount Nelson Hotel. He barely looked up from his prep, just kept chopping and sorting at pace. He was the solid, do-it-all chef running all the sections that needed to operate smoothly while the complexities of the pastry section and fine dining were building a reputation for the hotel's cuisine. When Covid ripped the heart out of the hospitality industry, Chef Dion was retrenched. Never one to let anything get him down, he started Violet by Vengatass named for the grandmother who had taught him to cook. From delivering meals in lockdown, he took his broad hotel kitchen experience and a winning streak on international culinary contests, and became one of Cape Town's most sought-after private chefs. Chef Dion now works in Cape Town and abroad for top-notch clients. He's appeared on TV as a contestant on Ultimate Braaimaster, a guest chef on morning shows and a judge on a new reality cooking program. I managed to catch up with him days before he headed of for another 3 month stretch in a fabulous estate kitchen in the UK.www.rwm2012.comOn Instagram @a_table_inthecornerCover image sketched by Courtney Cara LawsonAll profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise creditedTitle music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay