Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
District Six’s melting pot reveals its recipes
Upcoming artists rub shoulders with the famous at annual art fair Plett is set to be all the rage for thousands of young matrics
CHILDREN playing cricket in the street and teenagers chatting on the Seven Steps as the aroma of homecooked meals permeates the air, a reminder that it’s almost supper time.
These are the vivid images brought to life in a new book, District Six Huis Kombuis: Food & Memory Cookbook. It captures the rich and colourful tapestry of District Six before the removals.
The recipe book, featuring contributions from 23 people who lived in the area, was launched at the District Six Museum this week.
It weaves through a typical week in District Six, focusing on traditional family recipes that were prepared with love and often limited resources.
It is also visual celebration of the vibrant and warm community – who foraged, preserved, baked and cooked together.
Recipes include favourites like tomato bredie, koeksisters, tripe and trotters, crayfish curry, hertzoggies, melktert and pampoenkoekies.
The book’s release is part of the commemoration of 50 years since the declaration of District Six as a white area under the Group Area Act in 1966.
At the launch, Moegamat Benjamin, who was born in District Six, remembered how back in the day everyone shared their food.
“Food was made very simple, tasty and to be shared with everybody, and we commended each other’s food.”
Benjamin said people must remember the values and traditions of District Six.
“We must tell our stories. District Six was a seasonal place. There was time for everything,” he said.
Noor Ebrahim’s grandfather arrived from Surat and he married a Scottish women. He was born in Cledon Street in District Six.
“My mother cooked bredies during the week... tomato bredie was absolutely fantastic.”
He shares her recipes in the book.
These dishes went well with baked bread from Johnson’s bakery.
“You get that – ooh jitte, so smal breadjie for a tickey (2.5c)!” recalls Annie Bam in the book about the bakery where everyone took their home-made dough to be baked.
Joyce Jonathan tells of her mother, who worked as a waitress and who would copy the hotel’s cooking style.
She said when she joined the Huis Kombuis project, she didn’t know anyone, but it became like being part of a family.
Her contribution to the book is a sumptuous macaroni and cheese recipe. “At the Huis Kombuis we had to share our favourite recipes while growing up.” Tina Smith, who helped put the book together, said: “The title Huis Kombuis was inspired by descriptions of kitchens in participants’ homes, the heart of the home its central space. “Here traditional recipes were brought to life in the rituals of cooking and eating. “It was a sensory exchange at the kitchen table; culinary rituals and home-craft practices... with deep significances and connections with District Six.” The book is a nostalgic trip down memory lane and in the words of Sheila Rolls: “District Six was a melting pot of religions and cultures and this is what made our food so interesting.” BRACE yourselves, art enthusiasts, for an indulgent treat is coming your way.
Next Sunday art dealership Bennett Contemporary will host a contemporary art fair from 10am to 6pm in Woodstock at Roodebloem Studios, 27 Roodebloem Road.
Arabella Bennett, curator and dealer of Bennett Contemporary, said art fair visitors could view and purchase “a well-curated collection of South African contemporary artists’ work and enjoy a relaxing day out in a lovely setting”.
Featuring work from some of South Africa’s most renowned artists, including Kevin Brand, Renee Rossouw, Brett Murray, and Anton Kannemeyer, the fair gives visitors a chance to browse and shop for art previously hidden from the public eye.
The selection includes a wide variety of paintings, drawings, silkscreens, lithographs and wooden and bronze sculptures by both established and rising artists, spanning the price range.
Bennett Contemporary started when Bennett left her career as a finance lawyer and teamed up with comic artist Conrad Botes to provide a novel way to display and deal art that fits their aesthetic vision.
The dealership held its first art fair last November in Newlands, where over 1 000 guests attended. This year, art-based entertainment will be offered to children, including getting their hair styled and art books will be available for purchase.
Visitors can enjoy a selection of food from Jack Rabbit, Las Paletas ice lollies, wine and beer sponsored by Secret Cellar and Rosetta Roastery coffee while admiring and browsing art.
Parking is available in the streets around the venue.
For this event, Bennett Contemporary has teamed up with Uber. Using the promotional code ARTFAIR2016 will get you R100 off your first ride. ABOUT 10 000 matrics and studentsare set to descend on Plettenberg Bay for Plett Rage.
The festival has become a rite of passage for matrics countrywide when they have finished writing their exams and want to whoop it up.
Festival spokeswoman Ashley Brown said ticket sales had been “outstanding” and festival organisers expected it to be sold out.
“There was a time when leaving school entailed a few drinks, some snacks and a bit of music playing out of that old stereo,” states the festival on its website.
“Well, Ragers… times change. Freedom is on the horizon and the town of Plett is gearing up to welcome you.”
The eight-day music festival begins on December 2 and ends on December 9. Tickets range in price from R700 to R2 150.
Big names set to perform include electronic dance duo Goldfish, indie rock group Shortstraw, popular radio presenter DJ Fresh and house music group The Kiffness.
Brown said this year the main festival would take place at The Meadows Plettenberg, about 3km outside of town.
“An exciting new aspect is the launch of Rage Village, which gives Ragers cheap accommodation options in the form of camping with pre-pitched deluxe camping or chalets.”
She said festival organisers had done away with day passes for safety and security reasons.
Brown said when buying a festival pass called a “Plett Rage Freedom Passport”, matrics and students would have to provide medical information, an emergency number and other safety information
Brown said a new free transport system would ferry festival goers to the various venues so they did not need to drive or take expensive taxis.
“In the past, our clientele indicated that private taxis could cost them up to R300 per person per day.”
The festival has come under scrutiny for how much festivalgoers drink.
Brown said the Red Frogs, a non-profit organisation, would be on hand to promote responsible drinking.
The group aims to provide a “positive peer presence in alcoholfuelled environments where young people gather,” according to its website.
Patty Butterworth of Plett Tourism said the festival was an important part of the town’s tourism economy.
“We estimate an average of R10 000 is spent per student. They spend money on accommodation, food, drink and area activities. This is the start of our Plett summer season, which encourages additional employment in both the retail and tourism industry,” she said.
See www.plettrage.co.za for more information.
jan.cronje@inl.co.za