Rudi Blaauw is the Head Chef at The Marine (Hermanus) Origins Restaurant. This is a member of The Liz McGrath Collection and Small Luxury Hotels of the World. I love that he cooks with seasonal and regional ingredients.
Rudi Blaauw Answers Questions For The Blog #LavenderAndLime Share on X
Who has been the most influential person in your life?
Virgil Kahn
What started you on the path of cooking?
My father, he was a chef before, I inherited his passion for cooking.
Which three ingredients could you not live without?
Salt, Lemons, Olive oil
Which of your kitchen tools would you take with you anywhere and everywhere?
My knives
Do you have any pet peeves in the kitchen?
Yes, chopping board is for cutting, slicing, chopping, not for anything else!
Which meal is your all time favourite?
Sushi
Which restaurant would you visit over and over again?
Turkey Central Restaurant, Doha, Qatar
If you could only have one recipe book, which one would it be?
The Big Fat Duck Cookbook by Heston Blumenthal
If you could work alongside one chef for a day who would that be?
Thomas Keller
Which ingredient will you not eat or cook with?
Balut
What is on top of your bucket list?
To cook a wild boar on open fire in the jungle.
What is your food philosophy?
Seasons excite me! They guide me and before I decide what to cook, I always start with what is seasonally available. The first lesson in cooking is to get your hands on the best ingredients you can afford, and when it comes to fresh vegetables, it’s always better to buy local and seasonal.
Any parting words for the readers?
Passion is the reason we do what we do…it’s what drives us every day. It’s a funny thing, because people can tell when you’re not being genuine…they know when you are not passionate. It shows. If you love what you do, you put everything into it.
About The Liz McGrath Collection
The Liz McGrath Collection in South Africa comprises The Cellars-Hohenort, The Marine, and The Plettenberg – three iconic hotels that are proud members of Small Luxury Hotels of the World. Each of the three 5-star hotels boasts a unique location, mesmerising history, splendid design, and amenities and services that are second to none. The Collection features individually designed, sophisticated interiors, the most luxurious accommodations, award-winning gardens and world-class cuisine to exemplify authentic South African hospitality.
Thanks to Janie van der Spuy from FIVESTAR PR for facilitating this interview with Rudi Blaauw.
Inspiration published on Lavender and Lime December 15:
- 2019: The Rosie Result
- 2017: Extruded Pasta
- 2014: Blueberry Cake
- 2013: My Husband Next Door
- 2012: Chilli Cheese Maize Bread
- 2011: Ostrich Fillets With ClemenGold Juice
- 2010: Cranberry and Cointreau Ice Cream
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Today is my last working day and on Friday we leave for holiday. I will be back at work on the 5th of January and will reply to comments then.
I would like to eat some of his food. Unfortunately that seems on the very distant horizon.
I see Australia are re-opening their borders!
Hi Tandy! A very interesting read. Although cooking wild boar in the jungle is not a priority quite yet! I really hope they open the borders for you~ honestly, the vaccine is open to anyone who wants it so people should be allowed to travel. My daughter got COVID 10 days ago and sneezed several times in my face! Yikes. We also shared a hot fudge sundae right before she got a positive test. None of us the rest of us got it (so thankful) and we are not vaxxed. So thankful! But maybe it’s not as contagious as the media would like us to believe and travel is essential! That’ just living life to its fullest.
Oh my, I hope she healed completely! I am so pleased you did not get ill. It seems so random. Who knows just how contagious it really is. All I know is that I want to travel, and having had the vaccine, feel I should be allowed to.
I had to look up what balut was – no way I would eat that either!
It’s interesting to learn what people will and will not eat.