INTRODUCING
MARLENE VAN DER WESTHUIZEN
AUTHOR, CHEF AND TRAVELLER
MEET MARLENE, A PASSIONATE FOOD AND LIFESTYLE AUTHOR,
CHEF WHO COOKS TO HER HEART’S DESIRE AND HUMBLE TRAVELLER.
“FOOD, FRIENDSHIP AND A GLASS
OF EXCELLENT WINE ARE, FOR ME,
THE MOST IMPORTANT INGREDIENTS
OF A LIFE WORTH LIVING.”
“FOOD, FRIENDSHIP AND A GLASS OF EXCELLENT WINE ARE, FOR ME, THE MOST IMPORTANT INGREDIENTS OF A LIFE WORTH LIVING.”
Marlene van der Westhuizen
BACKGROUND
HER PASSION FOR FOOD AND INGREDIENTS WAS IGNITED
WHILE BEING TUTORED IN THE KITCHEN OF CHEF JOHN JACKSON.
HER PASSION FOR FOOD AND INGREDIENTS WAS IGNITED WHILE BEING TUTORED IN THE KITCHEN OF CHEF JOHN JACKSON.
It was only a miracle that opened a service door into the kitchens of Chef John Jackson
so many years ago. Under his careful tuition I was taught quite astutely how to ‘move food’.
‘Food, friendship and a glass of excellent wine are,
for me, the most important ingredients of a life worth living.
The gentle early morning debate about a possible dinner menu,
picking arms full of wild flowers in the fields around
the achingly-beautiful village of Charroux,
filling a basket with fresh asparagus,
sun-warmed tomatoes and purple artichokes.
From winter fires to steaming soups, brisk walks
in the icy winter’s mist along the well-loved Sea Point promenade,
endless conversations around the kitchen table whilst a pot
of tender-as-marrow oxtail is cooking away on the stove.
All of these and the sharing of another meal,
laughter or journey with the people around me.’
‘Food, friendship and a glass of excellent wine are, for me, the most important ingredients of a life worth living.
The gentle early morning debate about a possible dinner menu, picking arms full of wild flowers in the fields around the achingly-beautiful village of Charroux, filling a basket with fresh asparagus, sun-warmed tomatoes and purple artichokes.
From winter fires to steaming soups, brisk walks in the icy winter’s mist along the well-loved Sea Point promenade, endless conversations around the kitchen table whilst a pot of tender-as-marrow oxtail is cooking away on the stove.
All of these and the sharing of another meal, laughter or journey with the people around me.’
QUALIFICATIONS
Before embarking on her unexpected food journey, Marlene studied English, History and Art of Drama at the University of Pretoria.
NOTEWORTHY
ACHIEVEMENTS
Marlene is the celebrated author of eight cookbooks, the latest being Plate featuring the best of her main dishes ever compiled.
Her colourful and inspirational experience includes many wonderful food journeys starting in the Alsace on the Rhine River, endlessly exciting and challenging food and wine pairing lunches for wine estates in the Western Cape, as well as food demonstrations at The Food Studio in Green Point.
THE ALLURE
OF WRITING
‘My first book, Delectable, was published in 2006. And after that the smell of printer’s ink became a small, albeit rather serious, addiction. During the course of the years following the first book I’ve realised that we all need to take an in-depth look at our relationship with produce and food.
What you eat should be part of a lifestyle.’
The books encapsulate easy brasserie luxe recipes as well as a laid-back lifestyle in both Cape Town and the medieval village of Charroux in Auvergne, France.
CURRENT
(AD)VENTURES
Marlene now cooks to her heart’s desire during her Cook’s Tours at Bagatelle, Charroux and her home in Green Point, Cape Town, where she gives private cooking lessons.
‘SPRING IN THE FRENCH COUNTRYSIDE IS A TIME REDOLENT WITH DEEP PURPLE PEONIES, LILAC AND TULIPS. ALSO HANDS FULL OF TINY GREEN ASPARAGUS, ARTICHOKES AND GLASSES FILLED WITH FRAGRANT BURGUNDY. EARLY MORNING WALKS THROUGH DEW-COVERED CANOLA FIELDS, WARM COFFEE IN FRONT OF THE KITCHEN FIRE, OXTAIL IN TRESALLIER WINE AND REDUCED CHICKEN STOCK ON THE STOVE.’
‘SPRING IN THE FRENCH COUNTRYSIDE IS A TIME REDOLENT WITH DEEP PURPLE PEONIES, LILAC AND TULIPS. ALSO HANDS FULL OF TINY GREEN ASPARAGUS, ARTICHOKES AND GLASSES FILLED WITH FRAGRANT BURGUNDY. EARLY MORNING WALKS THROUGH DEW-COVERED CANOLA FIELDS, WARM COFFEE IN FRONT OF THE KITCHEN FIRE, OXTAIL IN TRESALLIER WINE AND REDUCED CHICKEN STOCK ON THE STOVE.’
Marlene van der Westhuizen
A glimpse of what a Marlene van der Westhuizen cookery class on her Cook’s Tours in Charroux, Auvergne in France entails…
“An immersive 6-day French cooking adventure that includes long early morning walks, gentle bicycle rides, the odd picnic, visits to local food markets and antique dealers, communal cooking and, of course, long, lingering lunches and dinners with plenty of local wine.”
OTHER INTERESTS
Have suitcase, will travel
‘What an immense privilege to be able to combine a complete passion for food and cooking with the same for travel. When the pomegranate in the courtyard in front of my study, helped along by the first autumn winds, sheds her leaves, I haul my suitcase from the attic. Then the traveling for the year commences. A delicious journey that leads me from St Georges Bungalow in Green Point Village, Cape Town through the well-loved streets of Paris to the tiny village of Charroux and our lovely home, Bagatelle, in the Auvergne.’
VAN SKAAPSTERT
TOT CAMEMBERT
TELEVISION SHOW
Embark on a food journey, from Marlene’s home in Green Point in Cape Town to her home in Charroux in France, during her successful Afrikaans cooking show.
THE ALLURE
OF WRITING
‘Staying, shopping, cooking and sharing some of the most memorable times with friends as well as fellow food travellers in the tiny village of Charroux and our lovely home, Bagatelle in the Auvergne.’
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ABUNDANCE, PUBLISHED IN 2012
THE ABUNDANCE OF LIVING SIMPLY IN HER HOMETOWN OF CAPE TOWN.
With all the elegance of her French cookbooks,
Delectable and Sumptuous, Abundance
sets the standard for easy city living with flair and style.
All new recipes are showcased
amongst photographs of Marlene’s Cape Town
– her favourite walks, her favourite shops
and of course the restaurants that inspire.
Some say this is her best book yet, you be the judge.
MARLENE VAN DER WESTHUIZEN & ADORE AFRICA
Our Shared Views, Passions & Visions
Marlene is all about the joy of wholesome memorable food, sourcing it, cooking it and sharing it with
friends and fellow food travellers and teaches her students how to cook and present glorious meals.
Marlene is all about the joy of wholesome memorable food, sourcing it, cooking it and sharing it with friends and fellow food travellers and teaches her students how to cook and present glorious meals.
