Meet our authors

Vickie de Beer has been a food writer, stylist and food editor of Rooi Rose for 13 years. Having been inspired by her mother who was an avid cook and food enthusiast, Vickie received her professional chef’s diploma from the … Continued

Tina Smith is head of exhibitions at the District Six Museum. She is a fine art graduate and holds a higher diploma in education…

Tina Bester is the Queen of tarts, celebrated author of bestselling cookbooks Bake, Comfort and…

SYDDA ESSOP studied at the Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town. During the 1980s, she became an active member of Vakalisa

Sue left South Africa in 1985 and landed a job in the music business in the UK, then spent the next 20…

Botanist and Conservation Director at Grootbos Nature Reserve, has been involved at Grootbos since 1997 and was instrumental, together with Grootbos owner Michael Lutzeyer, in initiating and developing the non-profit Grootbos Foundation since 2003.

My photographic journeys have converted me into a disciple for the protection of Africa’s last wild places. I’ve discovered that conservation is not only about wildlife and landscapes. The world needs these places, now more than ever, because wild Africa can transform our hearts.’

Sally-Ann spent most of her life sick with chronic asthma, sinusitis and panic disorder, undergoing many…

Ross Frylinck has been exploring the South African coastline as a surfer and free-diver for most of his life. He started the Wavescape Ocean Festival, and has been pioneering ocean conservation and culture in South Africa for the past 15 … Continued

Rita Venter is married to Cobus, a type-1 diabetic who has benefited greatly from the Banting lifestyle, enabling him to reduce his insulin intake. They live in Cape Town, have four adult children and five grandchildren. Rita founded the group and … Continued

Reuben Riffel leads a busy life with three restaurants in and around the Western Cape. He is chef de…

Durban-born Ranjith Kally’s award-winning photographic career has spanned more than four decades.

Tim is a highly respected South African professor of exercise and sports science at the University of Cape Town.

Portia Mbau is a proud woman of Africa, who is deeply connected to the women and men who feed their communities. Since starting The Africa Café restaurant in 1992 in her tiny dining room in Observatory, Cape Town, she has dedicated her … Continued

Phillippa Cheifitz is a well-known South african author and food writer. She currently contributes to…

MasterChef South Africa judge, veteran food columnist and one of South Africa’s most recognisable celebrity…

A master of manipulation – both with his camera and in the darkroom – Obie has been creating images that twist reality, reveal what is hidden or celebrate what is true for over six decades…

Nini has a deep appreciation of the environment as well as the cultural and horticultural landscape.

Nikki Werner currently works as a food researcher, writer and consultant.

When she launched her @dinewithneo foodie page on Instagram, Neo’s course was set. Hundreds of followers soon became hundreds of thousands, all hungry for more of her delicious recipes. Food campaigns, sponsorships and being invited to judge the World Class … Continued

Natasha Sideris is the creator and founder of the successful tashas restaurants.

Natalie Lawson, a stay-at-home mom, also from Cape Town, is married to Stephen and combined they have four children and one grandchild. Her oldest son, diagnosed as autistic and non-verbal, was her reason for starting her family’s Banting journey, which … Continued

Mpho Tshukudu is a registered dietitian. She holds a BSc Dietetics and a postgraduate diploma in hospital dietetics from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. She is also a FirstLine Therapy practitioner and trained in Functional Medicine at the Institute for Functional … Continued

Executive Chef of the international Oddo Vins et Domaines wine label. She previously worked at Cucina Labia and De Kloof Eatery, as well as TASTE magazine. She is the author of Harvest Table.

Mogau Seshoene founded The Lazy Makoti in 2014 after leaving the corporate world to focus on her love for food. What began as lessons for a friend, a bride-to-be who was afraid of being labelled “The Lazy Makoti” (the lazy … Continued

Ming-Cheau Lin was born in Tainan, Taiwan and immigrated to South Africa when she was three years old in the early 90s, growing up in Bloemfontein. Now based in Cape Town, she is a freelance copywriter and runs a food … Continued

Author, TV personality and home-cookery expert Mimi Jardim was born in Portugal and moved to South Africa…

Mieke van der Merwe recently completed a master’s degree in children’s book illustration at the University of Stellenbosch, where she is currently working as a part-time lecturer. This talented illustrator says she ‘loves to draw special places, buildings and my travels’ … Continued

Meg Faure is an occupational therapist with a special interest in babies and toddlers – specifically irritable infants, sleep problems, emotional engagement difficulties and fussy feeding. Passionate about assisting parents to nurture their babies she has a clinical practice in … Continued

Martjie Malan has been involved in baking since she could reach the stovetop. This book shows her passion for reading, writing recipes and creating stories and memories around them. In 2015, she took part in the baking television programme, Koekedoor, … Continued

Marijke studied Botany at UCT, worked at Kirstenbosch, and has been designing landscapes for 15 years.

Marianne is a self-taught cook with a wide-ranging culinary repertoire who has presented lectures, workshops and seminars on food.

Lumai mira de SmidT, Portia’s daughter, grew up in The Africa Café and shares her mother’s love of food and travel. When she left school, she started a small business making and selling sugar-free, dairy-free and other healthy treats at … Continued

Louise Gelderblom has been a member of EAT YOUR WORDS book club for the past 24 years, where great literary fiction, intimate conversation and good food rule …

Liezie Mulder is the co-owner and head chef of Knysna’s popular café and artisan bakery, île de païn. Liezie trained as a chef in the US, working under inspirational chefs in esteemed kitchens. It was here she met her life … Continued

Kim Blom, a Durbanite, is married to Adrian and has five children. She is a PR consultant who found, in the Banting group and now the book, an outlet for her love of learning and teaching, and way to help … Continued

Kath Megaw has been in child nutrition for 20 years. She is South Africa’s leading paediatric dietician…

Julie has a passion for parties and strong creative streak.

Julie Brown leads the Foodies of SA production team. She has a deep passion for food, film-making and family, and has been in the industry for over 10 years, producing, directing and managing video teams. By day she works closely … Continued

After training and working in a five-times rated Top 10 restaurant in his early career, Jonno moved through…

Portugal born Joao Da Fonseca, a.k.a. J’Something, is known to millions of fans for his award winning hits as the lead singer and song writer of South African band Mi Casa. J’Something has won multiple awards with Mi Casa, including … Continued

Following on from her last two best sellers, Low Carb is Lekker, author, artist, mom to 3 year old twins, two teens and autism awareness warrior, Iné Reynierse gives us the inspiration and tools to live a grain-free, sugar-free, smart-carb, … Continued

Hugh was born in Johannesburg and trained as an architect.

Chef Hope Malau grew up in Klerksdorp in the North West Province eating traditional Sotho food prepared by his dad…

Hayley Murison was one of the earliest members of the Foodies of SA team, and has been involved in just about every aspect of the business. She always hoped to strike a balance between her creative flair and her formal … Continued

As a creative director, producer and filmmaker, Harriet Pratten co-founded the 21 Icons project and the Ginkgo Agency.

Grace Powell and Jean Doyle are childhood friends. Having braved the rigours of maths, Latin and muddy hockey matches through school, it was a reunion many years later on a beach in St James, which gave birth to the idea … Continued

An internationally renowned chef who earned his stripes at three-star Michelin restaurants in France

Originally trained in the performing arts, designing gardens is Franchesca Watson’s second career. Since training in horticulture and garden design in the ‘80s, Franchesca has undertaken commissions all over South Africa and has collaborated on projects overseas. Initially developing a … Continued

Although Knead Bakery founder and co-owner Evan Faull comes from a family of foodies, he didn’t always…

Ed studied photography at the London College of Printing before working as an on-set photographer for the BBC and Channel 4 in the UK.

Dr Sarah Karabus is one of the few sub-specialist paediatric allergologists in South Africa and obtained her qualifications in South Africa and the United Kingdom.

Renowned South African adventurer and former chef.

Daisy is a journalist and home cook who has written extensively on food, décor, politics and travel.

Craig Fraser specialised in interiors and architectural photography at the start of his photographic career.

Craig Foster is an award-winning filmmaker and avid naturalist. His filmmaking career has spanned three decades and he has received more than 60 international awards, including the Golden Panda, the ‘Oscar’ of natural history filmmaking. He grew up foraging and … Continued

Clare O’Donoghue is the former editor of Style, FEMINA, Top Billing and In Style magazines. She started out covering hard news at the South African
Press Association before her career had a softer landing in women’s magazines.

Nthabiseng Ramaboa has lived many lives – in business, fashion and now, food. Her credentials include, but are not limited to, partnerships with brands such as Fatti’s & Moni’s, Nespresso and Le Creuset; she is also AEG’s national ambassador and … Continued

Chantal Botha is a brand strategist/digital marketer with a passion for all things food and culture! She joined the Foodies team straight out of Red and Yellow School in Cape Town about 3 years ago, and has since been hard … Continued

Catherine Wijnberg is an experienced entrepreneur, having started and run businesses in five different sectors and three countries. She is the founding CEO of Fetola, where she has designed and implemented Enterprise Development Programmes that deliver exceptional results with clients … Continued

Carianne represents the third generation of women to make cooking and Silwood their lives’ work.

Brandon’s career includes marketing, public speaking, publishing and global travel…

When not cooking, eating, drinking and spending an inordinate amount of time doing the aforementioned with family and friends Billy can be found voraciously consuming books in the vein of a literary Mr. Creosote. Previous lives have included law student, … Continued

Bernadette is a food stylist and writer, and part-owner of Café Roux in Noordhoek.

From 21 years in working with major international companies, creating work for over 100 000 people, to flying for The Bateleurs as chairman of the environmental organisation, Avroy Shlain is truly an extraordinary entrepreneur with a zest for life. His enthusiasm and natural aptitude … Continued

Anna Trapido is a food anthropologist who has an MA from Cambridge University and a PhD from the University of the Witwatersrand. She is also a trained chef and author of the award-winning book ‘Hunger for Freedom: The Story of Food in … Continued

Anna Carolina is a monthly contributor to Pick n Pay’s Fresh Living magazine, and was the food stylist on Neill Anthony – Private Chef (SABC3), Siba’s Table Season 2 (Food Network), Jenny and Reza’s Fabulous Food Academy (Food Network) and Just Cooking (BBC Lifestyle) …

Previously voted as one of Mail&Guardian’s top 300 Young South Africans, Andy Fenner has contributed for TASTE Magazine, Men’s Health, House&Leisure, GQ,

Silwood founder Lesley Faull’s daughter Alicia literally grew up in the kitchen.

an award-winning photographer and filmmaker based in South Africa