March 2025: Celebrating Women Everyday
FREE Member Class, NEW Retreats, Cookery Classes & Gifts for Mother's Day Weekend.
Welcome to COOK WITH LERATO! I’m Lerato - binge tea drinker, plantain lover and constant traveller. I wrote a fabulous cookbook called Africana - with stories and recipes from across Africa to educate and inspire all levels of cooks. I love bringing people together through the power of food, through my recipes, cookery classes and cookery retreats. If you haven’t joined our community, what are you waiting for? Sign up here for a good dose of African sunshine & magic. Click here to subscribe.
When was the last time you celebrated a woman, not only with your words, but by your actions? Not just for the things she may have done for you, or for the things you would like her to do for you. When was the last time you honoured a woman with love and reverence for just being...
These are questions I have pondered deeply, at first subconsciously and now more so consciously than ever as I realise the power of the feminine divine in all that I am and all that I do. I share these not to prompt you for a conclusive answer but to inspire us to consider this as an ongoing promise to try to appreciate and celebrate SHE who is often overlooked, diminished, yet vital to humankind.
What would we do without women?
Women create, nurture, and empower not just ideas, but life itself. The greatest teachers in my life are women. Without women, there would be no recipes passed down, no traditions to savour and share at home and on our travels. In my own small way I have created opportunities to try to deliver on the promise to always honour women, from the many women honoured in my cookbook Africana, whose lessons and blessings reverberate through the pages of recipes and stories, to the phenomenal and resilient women we meet while on retreat, those who feed us, nurture us and teach us so much. None of this direction has been intentional, I have simply followed my heart and at the heart of it all, my mother, my grandmother and many women along the way have been my greatest teachers and guiding light. I realised that I hadn’t really shared the depth of inspiration behind all that I share with you and I promise to do more.
How do we support women?
The power of the feminine divine is at the heart of our community and I am very proud of our promise to keep celebrating and empowering women in all that we do. One of the many ways we support women is financially and expanding their network and reach across the world. For example, in Morocco we support the women at Amal where women who would otherwise be left at home with no work, education or prospects, some others destined for a life of servitude and some cast away after divorce. Amal provides a safe and loving space where strong, resilient women can rewrite their narratives and step into their power by acquiring skills, becoming employable and earning money. Our guests are treated to a private cookery class and many choose to go a step further by supporting the organisation with donations. Our classes at Amal are a highlight of our retreat. This is just one of the many examples of how we honour and empower women in all our different destinations. I am excited for the journey we have embarked on and what’s to come. Let us celebrate women who nourish, inspire and shape our world every single day.
Woman! When was the last time you celebrated yourself?
Magical Retreats for Food Lovers
Upcoming Retreats
Morocco ~ Marrakech/Atlas Mountains/Agafay/Essaouira
June 20th - 28th 2025 & October 22nd - 30th 2025 (Booking Now)
Join our magical retreat in Morocco. From the bustling city, to the Mountains, from the enchanting desert to the coast, join us for an exciting journey across Morocco. A journey that will leave you nourished, enriched, inspired and rejuvenated. With the rich culture of the land, sumptuous food and marvelous women every step of the way, Morocco is a highlight in our annual calendar of retreats.
Zanzibar & Nairobi ~ Sun, Sea & Safari
15th - 22nd September 2025
Enjoy an experience of a lifetime with turquoise waters surrounding the spice islands of Zanzibar, and the bustling food market, to the tea farms and enchanting animals in Kenya - the home of the original East African Safari. Two countries in one on our East African cookery retreat.
Upcoming Cookery Classes
North African Masterclass with Lerato
London - Sunday, 13 April 2025
Join me for a spring feast in one of the most beautiful museums in London, Garden Museum, surrounded by protected and are celebrated plants and art. You will learn my new collection of recipes including dish of the day-Pastilla, a recipe I learned from my travels in the imperial city of Fez, alongside a refreshing salad and orange drenched Basbousa, a semolina cake drenched in orange syrup.
Ethiopian & Eritrean Masterclass
Brighton - Friday, 27 March 2025
Join me in the seaside town of Brighton to learn some of the most loved recipes from Ethiopia and Eritrea, from making your own berbere spice blend, to the famous Doro wot stew and a speedy version of Injera – the much-loved sourdough bread of the region.
Online Cookery Class
West African Masterclass on Friday, 28 March 2025
North African Masterclass on Saturday, 29 March 2025
Spend the weekend cooking with me from the comfort of your home. This is also the perfect weekend for a mother’s day treat. You’ll learn to make some of our favourite spice blends and i’ll share my tips and tricks for perfecting recipes you will love to cook time and time again. From a big fat Nigerian Feast, to Kenyan Chai, Chapati & Curries, North African Feasts and more to come. If you’d love to book this as a private class for you or a small group, Book Here!
Online classes are £75 per person or FREE for newsletter members. Book your place now or leave a comment below to register your interest as a member and the ingredients and zoom details will be sent to you.
❤️ Are we friends on socials? Say hello and tag me when you try the recipes. I love to see your creations and share them with our community with your permission.
☀️ Find me here: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest
✍🏽 Or write to me: www.leratofoods.com
👩🏽🍳 Read about Cook With Lerato & see more here
🌺*Join Our Cooking Holidays & Retreats across Africa*