The fourth annual Alliance Française (Afel) So Chef! Gastronomic event is just around the corner and will see Stockholm-based chef Khalid El Kasimi join forces with local chef Shaun Gibb of Tsogo Sun to bring patrons a delectable three-course meal on Saturday at the Key Largo Restaurant Hemingways Mall in EL.
With “eland loin with confit beetroot puree in beurre noisette with beetroot flowers” as the main course, a night of authentic French cuisine can be expected as the two chefs share their techniques to bring a unique culinary experience.
“The people of East London can expect to have a wonderful time when South African culture meets French culture. This is a highlight on the Afel calendar because it is the only opportunity for our followers to experience first-hand the authenticity of French cuisine,” said event director, Aline Driessel.
Kasimi, who has Moroccan origins and was inspired by his mother and grandmother’s cooking as a child, will be combining French flair with the finest South African ingredients to create a truly exquisite meal.
“As a young cook, I was obsessed with French techniques, from simply deboning a whole chicken to making veal stock to salt-baking a beetroot,” said Kasimi, who is currently the chef de cuisine at well-respected Swedish restaurant, Oljebaren.
Describing his passion for making food and feeding people as fun and creative, Kasimi believes there are two main qualities needed to become a great chef.
“First is cooking techniques, second is a passion for the ingredient and understanding for its seasonality and characteristics,” said Kasimi
The So Chef! dinner forms part of an annual programme put in place by the French Institute of South Africa whereby international chefs specialised in French cuisine tour South Africa over a period of three weeks with various activities taking place in the hosting towns.
As part of the So Chef! event in East London this year, John Bisseker and Clarendon High schools were treated to cooking workshops with Kasimi this week.
“The workshops are organised in partnership with IFAS and the department of education and the chef visits the schools and shares his knowledge and skills with pupils by cooking with them,” said Driessel.
“For the past four years East London has proudly been part of the touring and we are looking forward to another successful So Chef! dinner experience.”
The dinner starts at 6.30pm. Bookings can be made via afeastlondon@gmail.com at R300 per person for Afel members and R350 per person for non-members. The cut off date for bookings is Friday at 6pm...