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Timeless South African: Celebrating 101 Iconic Dishes

ISBN 
9781432311728
Format 
Hardback
Recommended Price 
R480.00
Published 
August 2025
About the book: 
In Timeless South African, renowned cook and food writer Ilse van der Merwe has compiled a list of 101 iconic South African dishes – food not only revered as highly recognisable heritage classics, but also everyday dishes that are loved and prepared in many South African households today. Well-researched and filled with fascinating anecdotes about South Africa’s rich and diverse cultural history, this book celebrates the country’s unique melting pot of culinary traditions, highlighting the origins of many well-known South African dishes, as well as the ways in which they have been reinvented over time. The recipes for each of the iconic dishes in this book – whether humble or celebratory – are commemorated with full-page, striking photographs.
 
Do you know your vetkoek from your amagwinya? Or your koeksisters from your koesisters? And do you know the captivating histories of bobotie, the Cape gatsby, hertzoggies and the legendary Durban bunny chow? It is impossible to be an insider in each of the many communities that make up the South African culinary landscape, but one thing we know for sure: food brings people together. The more we share our food and our stories, the more we’ll be able to celebrate what unites us.
Other titles by this author 
About the Author

Ilse van der Merwe is a Stellenbosch-based recipe developer, award-winning author, food content producer, stylist, television presenter, and entrepreneur. Her popular food blog, www.thefoodfox.com, has cultivated a loyal global following since 2011, establishing her as one of South Africa’s most influential and respected culinary voices.

She is the author of four cookbooks published by Penguin Random House South Africa: Cape Mediterranean (2019), which earned a bronze medal at the 2020 Gourmand World Cookbook Awards, Simply Seasonal (2021), Easy Al Fresco (2023), and Timeless South African (2025). Ilse has hosted two television series and is a regular guest on various South African food programs.

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