Who Are You, And Why Are You Here?
Let's get to know each other
I've been thinking…
Who are you and why are you here?
I am really excited about this newsletter, getting to know you all better with each post and building a community for people who love food! You may have already heard or read that Cook With Lerato was selected for a fellowship in the Substack Food Writers Intensive. I found out on holiday in Accra, having just arrived the night before and slowly losing myself in that deeply relaxing holiday mood. What a feeling! I remember screaming in sheer delight and shock to be chosen to join 10 talented writers to supercharge our publications, to work towards becoming the very best writers and to build thriving communities for you, our readers. In our most recent session, we discussed the importance of building communities; a group of people who keep showing up for a common or shared cause. We were asked, “Who do you write for, who are your readers?” Perhaps the most important question for any writer…
As I mulled over who readers of Cook With Lerato are, imagining your faces, your locations, your interests, reading back through your messages and emails, I also began to wonder,
Why are you here?
Why have you chosen to subscribe to this newsletter?
What inspired your heart and hand to leap towards the link or tab to click on SUBSCRIBE?
And if for whatever reason you are here and are not subscribed, I welcome you to do so. You can choose to be a free or paid member not only to support sharing African food on a global table but also to enjoy bonus recipes, free & private cookery classes, behind-the-scenes videos and much more…
I do know many of you. I have been blessed with the privilege of hosting you at supper clubs in the most beautiful spaces, in my home, by the beach, in the forest, cooking with you at cookery classes both in-person and virtually, meeting you at live cooking events, dancing with you at our pre-pandemic immersive feasts, saluting the sun with you at our yoga beach brunches and picnics, talking to you live on television or on a radio show and more…Many of you have also met one another at these events.
I know Susan ~ who is celebrating a milestone birthday this year. The avid adventurer with her cute cockapoo who I first met at our cookery class which she attended with her son, after which she returned to several supper clubs with friends.
Louise ~ Radio presenter and multitalented human. A lady with a great eye for interiors, who I immediately bonded with at one of my supper clubs with Waitrose. (For our non-UK readers, Waitrose is one of the top fancy supermarkets in the UK)
Remi ~ One of the greatest food lovers I know. Years ago, when I started hosting events, he took a flight from Lagos to Abuja (In Nigeria), accompanied by a cooler of cheeses & charcuterie to attend one of my ‘bring your own food clubs’. Since then, our friendship has been forever and greedily sealed.
Joy ~ True to her name. An effervescent lady I met on Instagram who adores vibrant flowers and fruits! She has since attended numerous events, including our yoga feast overlooking Seven Sisters cliffs and picnic in Friston Forest. Joy is also an author, you can check out here
Annie ~ Sweet and compassionate. The first person to join my lockdown virtual cooking club. We were each other’s lifeline for a while before I remembered I had organised this for more than just two people to join in. Lucky to have finally met her in person on our Walking tour + Picnic again overlooking Seven Sisters.
Andy ~ Amazing photographer, videographer and super talented musician. A client turned bestie, turned super cheerleader, who I met on a shoot with a big client. It was my first day in London & my first gig after 2 years of being on lockdown so it was such an intense day that turned into a beautiful and memorable experience with this witty bundle of joy!
Jay ~ A fantastic cook and a supreme cheerleader. Always keen to try recipes, to share her wisdom, ideas and experiences.
Paul & Ana ~ World travellers and wine lovers. Ever supportive and enthusiastic cooks, ready to try new recipes and also great cheerleaders and friends.
From London to Lagos, Cape Town to Galicia, you are all here. I could go on and on…
I will love to know more of you, to know you better and vice versa. And so instead of asking myself too many questions that I cannot possibly answer, I thought I’d ask you.
Who are you and why are you here?
In the spirit of getting to know each other, please share as much or as little as you’d like in the comment section, Who you are, where you are from, what you love to cook/or eat (no judgment if you can’t, won’t or don’t cook. Sometimes I wish someone else would cook) and finally what brought you here and what you will like to see here… Without your participation or feedback, it will be almost impossible to make our journey as special as I would love it to be. I can’t wait to get to know you better.
See you in the comments section…
~ Love, Lerato
In the next newsletter
What I cooked on my recent trip to Ghana - Tatale ~ Sumptuous Plantain & Squid Fritters, served with freshly picked herbs & a variety of lush lettuce leaves and Shito Chilli Yoghurt. All wonderfully inspired by Ghanaian foods. I created this recipe off the cuff while on holiday and subsequently filmed it (by the herb garden overlooking the gorgeous pool) with the Executive Chef of the hotel. A rather exciting start to my African Food Tour which I can’t wait to share with you…see a sneak peek here!
Upcoming Supperclub for Paid Members
Exciting news for our upcoming virtual feast. I am working on a fabulous menu with inspiration for Spring/Summer feasting, so if you don’t want to miss out on what is poised to be a lot of fun, click below to enjoy free cookery classes and all the perks of being a paid member.
If you have enjoyed this newsletter it will mean the world to me if you share it with anyone you know will enjoy it. You can also write to me at lerato@leratofoods.com
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Hiya! My name means ‘Love’ in Sotho which is one of several languages spoken in South Africa and the Southern African region. Despite the Southern African name, I am in fact, of Nigerian descent. My mother is just extraordinary and ‘different’. She named her children as she felt and not by tradition. I am a cook, food writer, presenter and self-appointed African Ambassador. A proud mother to a boisterous and loving cockapoo called Tuppence. On a daily basis all I think about most of the time is food, sometimes travel, shoes, dresses, shortbread, plantains, crabcakes, bread and stew...food! My job involves creating recipes to inspire you, in various media, from my newsletter, television, books, brands, magazines and more. I also create memorable culinary experiences, which could be supper clubs, cookery classes, cookery holidays, you name it, all for the cause of representing African food on a global scale, in mainstream media, and most importantly sharing it with you in your homes.
My favourite meal is slow-cooked black-eyed beans or honey beans with chilli oil and plantains, a typical West African dish with different variations. I love Chinese food, fish & chips (especially the one from M&S that you can just pop into the oven. I am not sure they still make it. I binged on it while at university in London) I have no other job, food is my main hustle and my plan A,B,C,D,E…(I am often asked, “What is your real job?” Well this is it.)
In old age, I see myself travelling across Africa and beyond and bringing many more people together, with family and friends, with you, writing recipes as I gaze out to the deep blue sea, slowly stirring sumptuous pots of stew, and never retiring because to me, my job is not really work, it is my life. The life I love to live. The life YOU make possible and remarkable. I look forward to growing with you!
Super excited to see African food, especially Nigerian delicacies infused with western cuisine. The 1st African Afternoon Tea that Lerato put together a while back was excellent. The fusion of African, western and Asian influences was just delish. I love exploring, watching and trying out foods from different cultures and to be presented with roasted plantains and peanut butter-wow!!!!!