I’ve been leading a week-long management training course in Cape Town this week. Ramadan started on Monday, so the Muslim participants are dealing with hunger and blood sugar issues by mid-afternoon. I also scheduled our final day around the men heading out to the mosque mid-day. I am impressed to see the ways various cultures here are maintained and integrated. It’s quite different from the U.S or Switzerland… not a melting pot so much as a curry in which each distinct spice adds its own special essence.
When I was here last March, a course particpant introduced me to salomies — they’s kind-of like burritos, but filled with a spicy local lamb curry typical of the Malay culture here. I’ve been thinking of it (and wanting another) for six months, so I did a little research to learn about Cape Malay cooking.
I found Andulela’s Cape Malay Cooking Safari on the Slow Food Web site. What a day! Hands down the best walking tour I’ve been on. It costs about $55; that includes lunch. Check out the video above, it’s exactly how it was in person. Yesterday it was just me and a local journalist on the tour. Nizaam was a fantastic guide!
TIP: Be sure return another time to Biesmiellah’s, just up Wale Street. You won’t be hungry after the tour, though!
November update: I’ve been using the spices I purchased at Atlas Trading Co. on the walking tour, but my curry’s still not as good as Faldila’s! She makes it look so easy!
