All the presidents’ meals

Nelson Mandela

● “I cooked at his house and when he attended functions at Tsogo Sun. I made him pumpkin soup and braised oxtail with umngqusho. He was a simple guy; he didn’t like extravagant things. I think after being incarcerated for so long all he wanted was home cooking.”

Thabo Mbeki

● “I cooked for him at the International Investment Council in Alicedale. We were a team of four chefs and I did the starter, a vegetable terrine with avocado, cream cheese and tomato. You saw the three colours when you cut it. I served it with sweet yellow pepper dressing, chilli salsa verde and microherbs. It was wonderful.”

Jacob Zuma

● “I have cooked for his gala events at the hotel or convention centre. There was always a team of dietitians, although he didn’t seem very healthconscious. We’d have to cook in front of the security guys and serve the dish ourselves.”

Cyril Ramaphosa

● “I have cooked at his Adopt-A-School initiatives before and after he became president. He’s a healthconscious guy, I like that he is taking that lead with his walks.”