A recipe for real adventure – add a bunch of strangers, subtract your inhibition, add a glass or five of wine and a recipe easy enough to make your grandma proud. Now cook!
This is the Kitchen Collective, where cooking and entertaining is their first prerogative. You may be familiar with the fun and interactive cooking classes at Ginger and Lime in Bantry Bay.
The Kitchen Collective is an extension of their dream to offer guests a chance to play in a kitchen more fine-tuned to cater for bigger groups and broader offerings.
“There is nothing like this in Cape Town yet. A truly innovative space that provides a central space for professionals and foodies to bond, share and learn,” says Kim Jordan, co-owner of The Kitchen Collective.
It starts off with an introduction of all the guests and moves swiftly along to the cooking aspect. Today we are recreating the taste of Asia with a Thai-inspired menu.
Starters are served quickly, it is obvious that everyone is ravenous after a hard day’s work. The spicy red tomato and red pepper soup goes down smoothly, and leaves enough of a kick to say “welcome to Asia”.
For the next course, Thai salmon and kingklip miso fishcakes, it’s sleeves rolled-up and knives out. There are three stations in full preparation, one team are mastering the spicy dipping sauce, one preparing the fishcakes and another working on the next course of baked kingklip with panic crumbs.
The banter is so loud you’d swear this group of strangers were long lost pals catching up. This is exactly what makes this experience all the more special. It turns strangers into friends and cooking into fun. Friends and food, isn’t that what the good life is all about?
Once the courses are prepared and served, the room goes silent long enough for the food to be devoured and the chatter continues, congratulating each other on a meal well prepared.
As the night continues, the hunger ebbs and conversation flows – together with the wine.
Two more courses of a red Thai chicken curry and a delectable ginger and lime tart with coconut whipped cream complete the food aspect of the evening.
Denise Cowburn-Levy, the other co-owner of The Kitchen Collective says what fascinates her over and over again, is the ability of food and wine to heighten experiences, liven up conversations and elevate one’s life experience in general.
And she would be spot on. The concept of meeting and getting to know new people while experimenting with flavours outside of your comfort zone is a great way of trying something completely new.
It is perfect for fun kitchen tea parties, bachelorettes, team building, a get-together with friends or just as a fun night out.
Contact: +27 83 660 1146 or +27 72 041 1038
Address: 80 Jordaan Street, City Bowl, Cape Town
Website: www.thekitchencollective.co.za
Pictures: Supplied and Nidha Narrandes