IN a whirl of social events and functions there is one invitation that always stands out from the rest: when the pleasure of your company is requested by chef Mynhardt Joubert at KWV’s Cathedral Cellar. It’s a guarantee of gorgeous decor, delicious food, exceptional wine pairings, and a guest list on which you are honoured to be. Fine, fine company.
In this case, the occasion was to celebrate the book Recipes For Love And Murder by Sally Andrew and the television series based upon it – for which Mynhardt was head food stylist. The murder mystery series starring Tannie Maria and her veldskoene combines delectable recipes with a thrilling narrative as Tannie Maria, an avid amateur detective, uncovers dark secrets while exploring her culinary heritage.
“Some people might think food is too important to me, but let them think that. Without food, I would be very lonely. In fact without food, I would be dead.”
– Tannie Maria, in Recipes for Love and Murder
While filming in Prince Albert in 2021, Mynhardt had to ensure each recipe and dish on screen would do Tannie Maria’s deft cooking justice – albeit these were inspired by, but not exactly the same as in the book. Despite unique challenges, such as seasonal ingredient availability during filming, Mynhardt’s culinary expertise allowed him to adapt the recipes while maintaining the essence and flavours that captivated readers of the book.
With first-hand insight into the recipes, Mynhardt has added his own unique twist to some of Tannie Maria’s dishes, and he is encouraging fans of Tannie Maria to do the same. “These recipes are hearty and traditional and are perfect food partners to Cathedral Cellar’s line-up of delicious wines,” he says.
The table setting was as beautiful as always, decorated with fynbos, vintage enamel kitchenware and wooden rolling pins hanging above, with dish towels as napkins (which I think is very practical, especially for those of us who are prone to selling food down our fronts). Big pink bowls filled with hot golden crispy vetkoek with pillowy insides were brought out and we fell upon them unashamedly – and asked for more because we’d polished off the lot before the soup came. The best vegetable soup I’ve had. Somehow, when you say “vegetable soup” it sounds so potentially boring but this one was a resounding success at our end of the long table. I’ve included the recipe below.
Next up was shepherd’s pie with orange sweet potato mash, which we loved as well, followed by mutton curry. Also excellent, what a surprise. To finish was Mynhardt’s vegan carrot cake. If you pop on over to my Instagram, I’ll post some pics from the event; here you are seeing the professional images. Wines served were all from the Cathedral Cellar range: Sauvignon Blanc, Pintotage, Tryptich, and Chardonnay. And the cherry on the top was that Sally herself was there, to talk about Tannie Maria and sign our books. Goodness, I’m the ultimate fan girl when it comes to local authors I love, as Deon Meyer knows too well. Good news for fans is that Sally is busy writing the fifth book in the series.
Sally comments: “I am delighted that Tannie Maria is walking across the veld and across the globe in her red vellies. Into people’s homes and kitchens. I am grateful to Both World producers, Chef Mynhardt, and all the people who have enriched and widened Tannie Maria’s world. As an author, it is a joy to offer some delicious ingredients that others can change and add to, creating something new, unique and fresh, while retaining some of the core flavours.”
“Storytelling is at the heart of Cathedral Cellar’s wines, and the brand saw a unique opportunity to provide readers who are recreating Tannie Maria’s recipes at home, with an additional – but crucial – element to their culinary feats, namely Cathedral Cellar’s signature wines,” says Cathedral Cellar’s brand manager, Tanya Blokdyk.
With Cathedral Cellar’s wines available online and from Checkers Wine Route nationwide, it is easy for food and wine lovers to have an immersive food and wine experience as they indulge in watching Recipes For Love And Murder, which is available to stream on Showmax, with a glass of Cathedral Cellar on the side.
“At Cathedral Cellar, we wanted to capture the essence of winter, the magic of Recipes For Love And Murder, and our exceptional wines uniquely and tangibly. We extend this invitation to you, our esteemed guests, to experience the warmth, flavours, and captivating world we have brought to life,” adds Tanya.
Join Mynhardt at Cathedral Cellar on Thursday, June 29 for an evening celebrating the food inspired by Tannie Maria.
- Time: 6pm for 6.30pm
- Cost: R695 per person
- Bookings: [email protected] or Whatsapp Marita 068 094 0851
Follow @KWV_CathedralCellar @MynhardtJ and @SallyAndrewKaroo and share your culinary feats, inspired by Tannie Maria (and paired with Cathedral Cellar wines).
