Fabulous Reads: Lifting the lid on potjie-kos secrets
Book review - Beer Country: Pots, Pans & Potjies by Karl Tessendorf and Greg Gilowey
Beer Country: Pots, Pans & Potjies, Karl Tessendorf and Greg Gilowey, Penguin Random House, ISBN: 9781432310868
IF there ever was a holy grail to all things related to potjie-kos, this book would be it.
Two South African potjie enthusiasts, Karl Tessendorf and Greg Golowey, have mixed together not only a wealth of actual cooking tips and tricks but also how to pick the perfect cast-iron pot, how to care for it in between uses and even how to rescue an old, neglected and rusty pot.
The entire book is unmistakably proudly South African – from the beautiful yet gritty photos to a sense of nostalgia and sentimentalism, all mixed with the authors’ wicked sense of humour.
The book starts out with a brief history in cast-iron and potjie-kos and then delves into the anatomy of the cast-iron pot – did you know you could flip the lid and use it as a frying pan?
Once you have mastered the basics, the book also provides some advice on how you can elevate the flavours of your favourite potjie recipes.
As with any cookbook, this little gem is chock-full of recipes. And I was pleasantly surprised to find some vegan ones as well as dessert recipes.
Beer Country’s Pots, Pans & Potjies is the perfect gift for anyone who loves to entertain and is also a great gift for the men in your life. Mariclair Smit – 4/5 stars
