Wherein our culinary adventuress finds her Fairy Godmother!

So, following up on yesterday's topic, I went shopping for a South African cookbook.  And here's what I picked up:

 

"Evita's Kossie Sikelela" (which I would translate but it stumped Google's translation page) by Evita Bezuidenhout.

Yes, of course my first South African cookbook would be written by a drag queen.  It's me we're talking about!  And a particularly fantabulous drag queen at that:

How could you not instantly worship this face?

And as if that wasn't enough, the foreword was written by my major diva icon of all time, Sophia Loren!  I had to stop myself squealing in delight at the bookstore:

Seriously, this might be my favorite cookbook of all time.  Yes, of course, it has a ton of recipes that look amazing (yet pretty simple, very important in my opinion) and yes, it has lots of info about South African food.  But what I really love about it is that it's filled with highly irreverent political humor, surreal stories, interesting cultural tidbits, etc, etc, etc.  I read it cover to cover in a day!  It's subversive in a sassy, optimistic way in a country where LGBT communities face many challenges and where barriers kept (keep?) people from knowing and celebrating each other.

It's also filled with Evita paying homage to great icons, my favorites being Ms. Frida Kahlo as well as Goya's Maja:

There are little hand-drawn illustrations throughout -- they have a very old fashioned feel about them that I love:

Plus there's recipes like "Gorgeous Gay Muffins" -- I mean, come on!  Genius!

Evita teaches us to Braai:

A "braai" (prounced brrrreye) is a South African barbecue, though South Africans would loathe it being compared to something so pedestrian as a barbecue!  The braai is a huge part of South African culture.  Meat is cooked on wire cages over open fires/coals and seems to be universally loved not just as a meal, or type of food, but as a time for family and friends to gather around a fire and feast.  Here's what Evita says, "Braai:  An emotional word in South Africa.  It entails far more than standing around a fire grilling meat.  Can only be understood once personally experienced."  (Lorenita can't wait!)

 Illustration of a Braai grill and potjiekos.

Illustration of boerewors, sosaties (the South African version of kebabs), and chops on the Braai.

So anyhoo, here's to Evita!  I'm so lucky to have come across this book -- I don't think I could have found a more gracious, hilarious or be-glittered hostess to guide me through the wilds of South African cuisine.

And I love her philosophy, "If you put enemies around a table, what can they do but talk?  They can't fight: too many knives and forks.  Serve them a plate of your favourite food and watch enemies realise that they love the same thing.  Why should they fight?  Let them celebrate their passion and make peace."

I can't wait to follow her wise and glamorous ways in the kitchen!

PS: I've already tried 2 of the recipes and they were scrumptious!