BY Aurelia Mbokazi-Kashe
Lerato Mashinini rediscovered her deep passion for food following a tragic job loss and that marked the beginning of Only1 Cuisine, where she is a Head Chef.
Cooking has always been something I enjoyed doing, yet not a first choice for a career. My mother raised us from proceeds of home cooked meals. After losing my job in the banking sector in 2017, I started something I knew I was great at and that would be effortless – selling food. I became a full time accredited chef in 2018 after completing a program with HTA and Nestle.
Cooking is love and patience. More often than not, people forget how important it is to be fully invested in one’s craft. Sadly, in the culinary industry that is the key ingredient to success.
Heritage Day is as good a holiday as Christmas. It reminds us of the importance of knowing who we are and where we come from, imvelaphi yethu as a people. It also reminds us of the importance of learning and respecting others ways of life. It is a day for sharing a meal and knowledge, telling our stories and giving love. On Heritage Day we pause and remember the beauty and what makes us South African.
I established Only1Cuisine to focus on the hospitality industry and offer our innovative cooking experiences whilst embracing our South African cultures and heritage.
We offer a delightful experience of tasteful meals that are made combining a touch of Western and traditional South African influences. We are mostly guided by our clients specifications and make it our priority to provide memorable experiences with class and elegance.
On Heritage Day I always look forward to a hearty home cooked meal. I love amanqina – cow heels or sheep trotters. Every time I eat them, I feel like a little child. These go down well when paired with a good bodied Merlot or Pinotage wine.
Recipe Amanqina
2kg cleaned heels
Vegetable stock
Rosemary & Bay Leaves
1tsp Black peppercorns
1 whole onion diced
2tbsp course Salt
Worcester sauce
2l cold water
Slow cook for 6 hours in medium heat or until soft and falls off the bone
Serve with salsa or cayenne pepper
To book Chef Lerato for catering services email info@only1cuisine.co.za or the handle @only1cuisine across social media platforms.
