Mom, daughter cooking on TV
Pair hope their kitchen camaraderie, family tradition, will wow show judges
AFAMILY’S multigenerational passion for cooking has landed a Cradock mother and her Cape Town daughter a spot in South Africa’s newest television cooking show. Elani Lombard and daughter Louzel Lombard-Steyn are one of 10 pairs of contestants competing in an upcoming South African version of the Australian cooking show My Kitchen Rules.
Lombard, who runs the True Living farmstall in Stockenstroom Street, Cradock, said she and Lombard-Steyn had always shared a love for cooking, a tradition which has been passed on from generation to generation of Lombard women.
When Lombard-Steyn called her with an idea to apply to take part in a cooking show, she was more than willing to participate.
“When my daughter phoned me from Cape Town asking if I wanted to take part in a cooking show, I immediately said ‘yes’ and we had to make a video to submit with our application.
“I never thought I would cook in a TV programme but doing it with my daughter makes it so special and I know we have different skills to bring as a team. That’s the only reason I agreed to it,” she said.
Lombard-Steyn, a Cape Town-based travel journalist, said the choice to participate with her mother on the show was mainly motivated by her respect for her mother’s excellence with traditional recipes, as well as their compatibility.
“My mom and I are best friends in the kitchen, so there is no one else in the world I would rather do this with.
“I consider her the best at traditional cooking. She knows it like the back of her hand and we really just get each other,” she said.
While the pair always spent time in the kitchen when they lived together, this changed when Lombard-Steyn got married and moved to Cape Town.
“The show has been a great space to spend and enjoy our time together and it has been amazing,” the 26-year-old said.
My Kitchen Rules SA resembles the Australian version, with home cooks competing for a cash prize that will be revealed on the show.
The 10 pairs will compete through an “instant restaurant” round in the comfort of their own homes and the winners will go through to the final round where they will compete in a custom-designed restaurant space and other locations.
The 18-episode show will be adjudicated by celebrity chef and restaurateur David Higgs and J-Something from popular band Mi Casa.
M-Net publicity manager Ingrid Engelbrecht said the show focuses on South African home cooks, who open their own homes to fellow competitors and judges to showcase their flair and passion for food.
My Kitchen Rules SA will air at 6pm every Sunday – from August 13 – on M-Net 101.
I consider her the best at traditional cooking ... We really just get each other