As a food design studio, we’re in our element when we get to design experiences with ingredient deep-dives that pay homage to South African food culture – food design with intention and purpose. In May, we did just that, in collaboration with Chef Mmabatho Molefe. We focused on three humble ingredients: pap, meat and rice, for our Family Meal-themed pop-up restaurant.
Here’s how we celebrated pap: One of four sensory room installations was dedicated entirely to it. With the help of the Studio H community, we built an archive of maize meal from as far as Eswatini, KZN and Matatiele. Videos of South Africans from all walks of life making pap played alongside the installation, with the floor covered in maize kernels for an added sensory layer.
Here’s how we celebrated rice: A pot of Mmabatho’s breyani simmered in the centre of an almost empty room, accompanied by ambient kitchen sounds playing in the background. Guests could unpin a packet of breyani spice blend from a tablecloth. The following morning, they received the breyani recipe and the evening’s playlist via email. The veg breyani was served tableside from a huge pot on a trolley. As part of the table setting guests could use a magnifying glass to discover their names on a grain of rice.
Here’s how we celebrated meat: In the bread and tallow room, guests lit their beef tallow candles to mop up the melted fat with mini corn bread mosbolletjies.
Mmabatho served:
ON ARRIVAL
Beef tallow candles with mini corn bread mosbolletjies
Pap waffles with ushatini three ways (chunky, ketchup and jelly) and hung amasi spread.
Wine Pairing: Spier Signature MCC
A BIKE RIDE FROM SOUTHFIELD
“This dish pays homage to Chef Ryan (Cole) and a few things he introduced me to as a young chef.”
Tuna crudo with maize rice, candied beef tongue (seasoned with white pepper), jalapeños, sliced red onions and crack sauce.
Wine Pairing: Spier Seaward Sauvignon Blanc 2024
PAP/VLEIS
“A universally South African dish. Enjoyed in many different ways, yet still speaking to one culture.”
Pap, braised lamb neck, Studio H’s pickled waterblommetjies.
Wine Pairing: Spier Seaward Shiraz 2023
EDEN FAMILY CHURCH
“Whenever I think of the ultimate family time, it’s me and my family at church. Whether it was a fundraiser or a large church gathering, there was always a pot of breyani waiting to be shared.”
Seared duck breast, pea purée, green vegetables, cottage cheese served with vegetable breyani.
Wine Pairing: Spier Seaward Shiraz 2023
RICE & MILK
“When you’re craving uphuthu namasi but you’re out of both. A simple snack I used to enjoy with some leftover rice.”
Vanilla rice pudding, toasted rice and white chocolate cremeux, raw honeymoon, puffed rice paper, and white chocolate shards.
Wine Pairing: Spier Signature MCC 2023
Download the Family Meal playlist, courtesy of A11 Agency, here.
Thank you:
Wine: Spier Wine Farm
Venue: Lemkus Exchange
Sponsorhsip: Bernice Blundell
Styling: Klara van Wyngaarder
Styling assistant and florals: Phillip Obermeyer
Decor design: Sumien Brink
After party drinks: Kalahari Truffles, Angelique Smith
DJ's by A11: Athi Maq, Aaron W Peters
As a food design studio, we’re in our element when we get to design experiences with ingredient deep-dives that pay homage to South African food culture – food design with intention and purpose. In May, we did just that, in collaboration with Chef Mmabatho Molefe. We focused on three humble ingredients: pap, meat and rice, for our Family Meal-themed pop-up restaurant.
Here’s how we celebrated pap: One of four sensory room installations was dedicated entirely to it. With the help of the Studio H community, we built an archive of maize meal from as far as Eswatini, KZN and Matatiele. Videos of South Africans from all walks of life making pap played alongside the installation, with the floor covered in maize kernels for an added sensory layer.
Here’s how we celebrated rice: A pot of Mmabatho’s breyani simmered in the centre of an almost empty room, accompanied by ambient kitchen sounds playing in the background. Guests could unpin a packet of breyani spice blend from a tablecloth. The following morning, they received the breyani recipe and the evening’s playlist via email. The veg breyani was served tableside from a huge pot on a trolley. As part of the table setting guests could use a magnifying glass to discover their names on a grain of rice.
Here’s how we celebrated meat: In the bread and tallow room, guests lit their beef tallow candles to mop up the melted fat with mini corn bread mosbolletjies.
Mmabatho served:
ON ARRIVAL
Beef tallow candles with mini corn bread mosbolletjies
Pap waffles with ushatini three ways (chunky, ketchup and jelly) and hung amasi spread.
Wine Pairing: Spier Signature MCC
A BIKE RIDE FROM SOUTHFIELD
“This dish pays homage to Chef Ryan (Cole) and a few things he introduced me to as a young chef.”
Tuna crudo with maize rice, candied beef tongue (seasoned with white pepper), jalapeños, sliced red onions and crack sauce.
Wine Pairing: Spier Seaward Sauvignon Blanc 2024
PAP/VLEIS
“A universally South African dish. Enjoyed in many different ways, yet still speaking to one culture.”
Pap, braised lamb neck, Studio H’s pickled waterblommetjies.
Wine Pairing: Spier Seaward Shiraz 2023
EDEN FAMILY CHURCH
“Whenever I think of the ultimate family time, it’s me and my family at church. Whether it was a fundraiser or a large church gathering, there was always a pot of breyani waiting to be shared.”
Seared duck breast, pea purée, green vegetables, cottage cheese served with vegetable breyani.
Wine Pairing: Spier Seaward Shiraz 2023
RICE & MILK
“When you’re craving uphuthu namasi but you’re out of both. A simple snack I used to enjoy with some leftover rice.”
Vanilla rice pudding, toasted rice and white chocolate cremeux, raw honeymoon, puffed rice paper, and white chocolate shards.
Wine Pairing: Spier Signature MCC 2023
Download the Family Meal playlist, courtesy of A11 Agency, here.
As a food design studio, we’re in our element when we get to design experiences with ingredient deep-dives that pay homage to South African food culture – food design with intention and purpose. In May, we did just that, in collaboration with Chef Mmabatho Molefe. We focused on three humble ingredients: pap, meat and rice, for our Family Meal-themed pop-up restaurant.
Here’s how we celebrated pap: One of four sensory room installations was dedicated entirely to it. With the help of the Studio H community, we built an archive of maize meal from as far as Eswatini, KZN and Matatiele. Videos of South Africans from all walks of life making pap played alongside the installation, with the floor covered in maize kernels for an added sensory layer.
Here’s how we celebrated rice: A pot of Mmabatho’s breyani simmered in the centre of an almost empty room, accompanied by ambient kitchen sounds playing in the background. Guests could unpin a packet of breyani spice blend from a tablecloth. The following morning, they received the breyani recipe and the evening’s playlist via email. The veg breyani was served tableside from a huge pot on a trolley. As part of the table setting guests could use a magnifying glass to discover their names on a grain of rice.
Here’s how we celebrated meat: In the bread and tallow room, guests lit their beef tallow candles to mop up the melted fat with mini corn bread mosbolletjies.
Mmabatho served:
ON ARRIVAL
Beef tallow candles with mini corn bread mosbolletjies
Pap waffles with ushatini three ways (chunky, ketchup and jelly) and hung amasi spread.
Wine Pairing: Spier Signature MCC
A BIKE RIDE FROM SOUTHFIELD
“This dish pays homage to Chef Ryan (Cole) and a few things he introduced me to as a young chef.”
Tuna crudo with maize rice, candied beef tongue (seasoned with white pepper), jalapeños, sliced red onions and crack sauce.
Wine Pairing: Spier Seaward Sauvignon Blanc 2024
PAP/VLEIS
“A universally South African dish. Enjoyed in many different ways, yet still speaking to one culture.”
Pap, braised lamb neck, Studio H’s pickled waterblommetjies.
Wine Pairing: Spier Seaward Shiraz 2023
EDEN FAMILY CHURCH
“Whenever I think of the ultimate family time, it’s me and my family at church. Whether it was a fundraiser or a large church gathering, there was always a pot of breyani waiting to be shared.”
Seared duck breast, pea purée, green vegetables, cottage cheese served with vegetable breyani.
Wine Pairing: Spier Seaward Shiraz 2023
RICE & MILK
“When you’re craving uphuthu namasi but you’re out of both. A simple snack I used to enjoy with some leftover rice.”
Vanilla rice pudding, toasted rice and white chocolate cremeux, raw honeymoon, puffed rice paper, and white chocolate shards.
Wine Pairing: Spier Signature MCC 2023
Download the Family Meal playlist, courtesy of A11 Agency, here.
