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I think I have loved every place I have been. Places I haven't mentioned in my books are maybe San Fransisco, New York - actually all the places I went to in North America I loved. Also loved Thailand especially and would love to go back. I would like to visit New Zealand, and many places in the east. There are still many places I have not been to.
2] You were born in London, moved to SA when you were 4 and left again when you turned 18. You recently visited in March. How many times have you been back here since you left? Do you find it much different? And has the cuisine stayed more or less as you remembered? What did you do here this time around?
In the last 12 years or so since I have had my own family - I have only been back twice. Before that I would come regularly - every year say. I found it very different from a development point of view. New areas - almost unrecognisable - (JHB I mean). Many times I felt like I was in a new country altogether. Some of the cuisine I found the same, some also very developed and more global off course. South Africa for me has always been a wonderful place to eat out in - so many opportunities socially and places to try. The social sense especially in SA I find incredible.
It's the one place I never have to think about what to do there. It's like a whirlwind that just sweeps me up the second I arrive - and I just have to surrender and go with it.
3]At the beginning of your new book, Venezia, you state that ‘as many times as I went out was as many times as I got lost’. Tell us about the most interesting places you have gotten lost in Venice?
By that I mean that my feeling in Venice ...was each time I went out looking for something, I would end up either losing the way or distracted but I never ever felt that sense of irritation or that I had to find the original thing I was looking for - because I was always still just somewhere else amazing in Venice. There seems to be no 'lost' because there is always something super incredible to see or do. I have at times got on to a boat going in the wrong direction and ended up having the greatest time.
4] In the thank you notes of Venezia you thank a list of Venetians for their spontaneous help. Any that stands out in your memory and you’ll always remember?
Sergia in particular stands out. A wonderful lady who owns an 'alimentari' (food provisions store). She is the most amazing soul and was a tremendous help on this project. I met her in her shop. She led me to many other wonderful things. A wonderful waitor who I also mention in the book called Licio. And then off course - my sister in law Luisa who is half Tuscan and half Venetian and just great. She was truly marvellous and her sister who lives on the island of Lido in Venice. All of her family were fantastic.
5] There is such a rich, tactile element to your books which feature lace, velvet, ribbons, gilded page edges, embossing and photography that perfectly encapsulate the theme. How much of an influence do you play in the styling and design of your books? Do you start out with a preliminary idea for the ‘look and feel’ of a book before you go on your travels, or is it something that happens after the fact?
The result of my books is a result of my team - who have worked on all my books with me. We work very well together. Photographer - Manos and stylist Michail who live in Athens, and graphic artist/art director - Lisa Greenberg my South African friend living in Toronto. They are all incredible. Sometimes there is an idea from the start, sometimes it just goes along - each seems to have a road of its own.
6] I have noticed in the credits pages of your cookbooks that your team of creative contributors, including the photographer, stylist and art director, has remained unchanged through the years. Could you tell us a bit more about Manos Chatzikonstantis, Michael Touros and Lisa Greenberg? How did you meet them, and what do you think contributes to your success as a collaborative group?
See above as well. My team are very important to me. We trust each others' work. Michail is a friend of mine from birth whom I asked to help me with my first book that I was self-publishing. He did at no fee. He introduced me to Manos the photographer who I liked immediately - and so took him on for projects. Lisa offered to get the book ready for printing - at no fee - all was friendship they said. My publisher Kay from Murdoch has kept them on the team of all my books.
I am very comfortable with them and have not worked on a book with another team. I thoroughly enjoy the process of putting the book together with them.
7] Most of the recipes featured in your books are inextricably linked to people – their culture and stories – be they from your immediate family (like in Falling Cloudberries) or complete strangers. Do you consciously seek out interesting people on your travels and then exchange recipes with them, or do you go travelling in search of, for example, the best radicchio risotto and then follow the proverbial trail of bread crumbs to local dab hands?
I don't consciously follow it - I just follow my instinct and wherever that leads me to I go. There are the natural things that interest me - I think people are lead to the things they love. I love the people from a place, I love to know what they do and how and why.
8] The dishes that take centre stage in your books are straightforward, time-honoured and mostly authentic to their region of origin. Would you describe yourself as a traditionalist when it comes to cooking, or do you also like to experiment sometimes?
I like the idea of keeping things traditional and recognising what it is and where it comes from. My dishes are often very simple, mostly the things that I would like to make at home for my family, and sometimes I do fiddle with a recipe if I think (in my taste) it can do justice. But in my books that are place orientated - the glory is the very place itself.
9] Using seasonal, sustainable ingredients has become quite fashionable in the food industry, but in Tuscany it’s always been the norm, as you so beautifully illustrated it in Twelve. What do you think of the sudden international popularity of this age-old way of living?
I think it is a sign of the times. People have also been forced to become more in harmony with our land, with nature - so I think it is a natural progression this going back. It makes so much sense to me - eating what your land gives you and when.
10] What staple ingredients can’t you live without? Even when travelling? Or do you adapt your needs to wherever you might find yourself?
I always adapt to where I go. Its one of the things I like best - tasting all the things of a place on my travels!
11] What would you describe as your most unrefined, ‘un-foodie’ indulgence? (E.g. eating condensed milk straight from the tin or tucking into a serving of MSG-laden 2-minute noodles)
Yes - I have eaten condensed milk straight from a tin and stirred into coffee etc - but have loved those too! I think it was last year on my birthday that I decided to try making one of those beautiful looking American cakes right from the box that you just have to add eggs to and beat. Well - it was a FLOP! I can't imagine what I did wrong and I couldn't believe it - I thought maybe I just tried too hard - as I have heard that some of them really turn out fantastic. I am going to try that again though as I love how they look on the box.
12. What are you busy with at the moment, and what can fans expect from you next?
At the moment I am having a small break from any writing projects and just doing projects at home with my family. And loving it !!
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