Revel in the Rebel
Eats with Rebel Cook. I love the name. Packs a punch and boy, so do her meals. We first met over 10 years ago when I was doing work for TDR1000 (aka Mmantshwabisi desert race). They had wanted food stalls and a friend recommend her, and if I remember correctly we didn’t get to work together then. But over the years, my path crossed with this culinary bombshell and we became acquainted.
One of the first times I recall tasting her dishes was at a live demo she was partaking in at a Food and Home type fair hosted mantlheng a ka ko trade fair. I remember that the theme for that day was cooking and being creative with traditional foods. The few individuals who took to the stage cooked their hearts out and took us through the dishes. It was very informative, a great experience to say the least, as this type of thing is not a generic style of eventing.
It also turned out Rebel cook is close friends with an aunt of mine, and she catered at one of her milestone birthdays. The food presentation was sophisticated and unique, bamboo boats and Chinese style stir fry boxes were not so popular at the time and she was already on the pulse of international styles of presentation. This was another time that I saw an expression of Rebel Cooks passion for food as well as her creativity in prepping meals for people, which in my opinion creates important unforgettable moments for her clients.
Today on the menu she had a Curried ¼ Chicken which was beautifully flavourful. I enjoy a good Indian dish and this ticked all the right boxes. I appreciated that the curry was mild, hints of heat came through with the pieces of chilies, meaning this meal can be enjoyed by all. I know most think of extreme heat when they hear curry or Indian food (my hubby is guilty of this type of mind set, lol). The Fragrant Rice was fluffy and well-cooked and it went well with the curry and elevated the dish suitably. I was nervous about the Warm Citrus Potato Salad for a couple of reasons.
Firstly, I have never had salad with my Indian meals and when you think potato salad you automatically think of the traditional one with Mayo/eggs etc. What I had was far from that and it somewhat left me speechless because it didn’t look entirely striking but yet the flavours were powerful and completely infused. Every bite was delectable.
My meal was delivered to Phakalane and it was still warm when it arrived. I didn’t need to re heat it and I am quite a stickler for having my foods temperature being significantly above room temperature. The presentation of my meal was impeccable.
I was slightly worried that its delivered readily packed, wondering if it looks as great as it would on a plate when I opened it. There was absolutely no difference as the presentation was still satisfactory, just as well, with the convenience of being able to discard the packaging after indulging. Lunches run from Tuesday to Fridays, catering for individuals and events is as per request. Rebel Cook is excited to announce that at the end of the month they will start hosting on their premises. This space will be strictly for bookings and not walk in’s. All meals are to be pre booked.
The Rebel Cook experience is never knowing what you are going to get. They never cook the same thing twice. I believe this is a great way to keep patrons engaged and on their toes.
What can we expect for the rest of 2022, more hosting, this side of the brand they refer to as #BlankCanvas and I love it…. the tabula rasa, very artsy. They aim to create a warm, private, welcoming space for a mature crowd where one can book and have space to themselves. It will also be a great space for individuals who want an easy outing with select family or friends. This intimate setting will be adorned with soft background music, a bon fire, accompanied by good food and drink. I for sure cannot wait to visit this space. We all know how cold it gets and how hard it is to get out during winter. So if there is a space that will cater to all my needs, where I can be comfortable and royally fed, I am encouraged to make a booking. You too can do so by sending a message to their Facebook page