PORK SCANDALS

A couple of days ago my dad bought meat from the butchery. The meat was labeled as springbok meat. After eating it he fell sick, only to find out that it was actually pork, which he  is allergic to. So the butchery used false labeling on purpose for some or other reason.

 In 2009 new regulatory laws were brought into force by the South African Association for Food Science and Technology (Saafost). These laws state clearly that false food labeling is illegal.

In november 2011 a video came to light that showed a major "Halaal" meat importing company called Orion Cold Storage removing labels from pork hearts, water buffalo and kangaroo meat, and re-labeling them as "Halaal" products. this caused a huge scandal and infuriated Muslim communties. But not them only, but people like my dad as well who don't eat pork.

Its frustrating how our rights as consumers are still being taken for granted by business owners, even though so many new laws have come into force to protect us. When we come across such experiences, we are still left wondering whether we should complain abtout it and if we do, how far will this matter be taken?

It seems as though not enough is being done to make us aware of the steps to take when we come across such incidences. So now my dad is left wondering whether he should sue them or not.

WOOLWORTHS WINTER FOODS



Moroccan Lamb Soup from Woolworths



We are slowly stepping into winter. It's time to say good bye to your favourite ice-cream, colourful fruit salad and other summer delights. Its time to cook up a storm for the whole family to enjoy by the fire place on those cold winter days. If you're not the type of person to start cooking from scratch, then Woolworths is here to save the day for you.

Woolworths offers a wide range of winter foods that you can prepare in a couple of minutes. soups that you can buy for under R30, casseroles, puddings and many more winter exquisite dishes.

Malva Pudding from Woolworths

As if that's not enough, Woolworths hold an annual  Winter Food Fair. The fair usually takes place in Cape Town's V&A Waterfront. The show features the Woolworths "Food Works" food theatre treating you to innovative demonstrations that offer quick, clever and stunning presentations.

The Woolworths winter food range seems to be taking over. This is definitely good news because it shows that Public Relations Prcatitioner are slowly but surely moving awy from the 'hot cross buns saga' as well as the 'Frankies soft drink imitation.' The Woolworhs PR are trying to build a better image for themselves.

World's Greatest



Ferran Adria



Ferran Adria is probably the most influential and intriguing chef in the world, has been called the world's greatest chef. He is certainly one of the most creative. Gourmet magazine referred to Adria  as "the Salvador Dali­ of the kitchen".Ferran Adria  was born May 14, 1962 in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain. he studied Business Administration, but then got bored and left it. i guess this is where he realised that he's passion is in the kitchen.

Like any other successful person today, Ferran started out at the bottom of the ladder as a dishwasher. It was here that he learnt the classic culinary techniques. He returned to Barcelona and worked at a number of restaurants before finally landing a job at the celebrated Finisterre, where he became assistant chef. Adria left Finisterre to fulfil his compulsory military service, although that's not where his heart wanted to be.

'an explosive taste sensation', award winning food by Ferran Adria

While in the military, he was a member of the captain generals kitchen staff and eventually was in charge of a kitchen for the first time in his life. He was only 22 years old when he was given the chance to try out at El Bulli, which he today owns.

Unlike Farren, there many young chefs in South Africa who are hiding in the dungeons. This is because the only chefs given the benefit of the doubt are those that have studied to be chefs. What does this mean for many hopefuls out there?

The South African Chefs Association (SACA) is not providing the underprivileged with enough resources or giving them enough means to reach their dreams. So much focus is put on corporate careers, but where is the focus on the hospitality?

Behind the kitchen door

We all love going to franchise outlets. But do we ever think about what goes on behind the kitchen door? With so many people who fast food these days, hygiene in franchise outlets has become slim.


On the 29th November 2009 in Western India at a McDonald's franchise, samples of a frozen dessert were found not to be sub-standard. The fat standard in the milk was very low, even slim milk has a certain fat percentage, but this sample did not meet the standard. In other words they were selling a low grade product at normal prices.

At Vicki's West 59th Restaurant, inspectors found live roaches and evidence of rodents. The restaurant was shut down for 20 hours in February. This makes one wonder whether the staff at the kitchen literally put their blood, sweat and tears into the foos they make. These are are very scary thoughts and thoughts we shouldn't have if we want to enjoy our meal. But its very important to carefully select the places we eat at, in order to avoide food poisoning.

Traditional South African food

Mala mogodu, samp and beans, this sounds so delicious to most of us. These are South African traditional dishes. The only problem with these dishes is that they need three to four hours of cooking. With our busy schedules, this is time We do not have.
But here are some good news. Some restaurants have taken advantage of the time we do not have and are starting to serve South African dishes. Some of these restaurants are even in the northern suburbs in order to cater for African people who have moved from townships to suburbs.
Restaurants like Malalaituka (situated in the Johannesburg CBD) and Anka's kitchen (situated in Spruitview, East Rand). Make a lot of money by serving African food. They keep a lot of people happy. And they definitely come as an advantage to the daughter in law who can't cook these dishes (if u get what i mean). It's a good business venture don't you think?

Weird dishes: are you game?

 Imagine having to eat a fertilised duck egg with a nearly developed embryo inside, or cows brains or even coffee beans made from poo. Believe it or not, these dishes do exist.

 Trung Vit Lon is a dish eaten in Vietnam. It is  a fertilised duck egg with a nearly developed embryo inside. Some people from the northern part of Vietnam prefer theirs mature, when the chick is old enough to have a beak and claws. Tacos de Sesos is a dish from Mexico. This is a tortilla filled with animal brains. The most expensive coffee beans in the world are made from Civet (cat like mammal) poo. These are very popular in South-east Asia. 





Mexican dish, Tacos de Sesos

Yes, people eat these dishes and they enjoy them. People travel all over the world everyday. Visiting different countries and tasting different food. Qeustion is would you be willing to taste these two dishes without puking?  How tough are you?  

Vietnam dish, Trung Vit Lon



Believe it, it's the new chocolate generation!



sneakers made of chocolate



The lovers of chocolate are being introduced to a totally new chocolate generation. Chocolate makers such as Simon Dunn Chocolatier,Gayles Chocolates and many others are slowly moving away from the normal chocolate bar look, to more extravagant styles.

I know that I would definitely buy a chocolate shaped as a stilleto or sneaker just for the fun of staring at it for hours and then eating it. Even people who rarely buy chocolate will be eager to buy this kind of chocolate.

stilletos made of chocolate

Private chocolate makers are using these kinds of chocolate to up their sales. They know that when you see a normal chocolate bar you would just pass and not buy it. But when you see a chocolate shoe, you would freeze in awe and immediately dig into your pockets.

A chocolate shoe has the awe of the intricate detail of how they made it. but once you take a bite a guilty showers over you knowing that someone has put their blood, sweat and tear into making that shoe and you have just ruined it! 

This type of chocolate will obviously cost more than a normal chocolate bar. But, is moving away from the traditional style appropriate?  For the company's sales figures it's an undoubtable yes, but as for the consumers pocket, that's a totally different story.